Mahnoor Ansar
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Yi, who is on an official visit to Pakistan, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House, earlier this evening. The Prime Minister was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and senior members of the Cabinet.
While welcoming the Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation for the leadership, government and the people of China, for their steadfast support to Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national development. Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for China on its core issues, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further deepen its All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China, as envisioned by the leadership and aspired by the peoples of the two countries.
The Prime Minister lauded President Xi Jinping’s visionary leadership and his role in strengthening the ironclad friendship between Pakistan and China. While recalling his most cordial and productive meeting with President Xi during his visit to Beijing last year, the Prime Minister stated that he was greatly looking forward to his upcoming visit to Tianjin and Beijing, where he would participate in the SCO CHS meeting, as well as the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War. He looked forward to his meeting with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, as well as other senior Chinese leaders, during the forthcoming visit.
The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s desire to deepen bilateral cooperation with China in trade, investment, ICT, agriculture, industrialization, mines and minerals and other key sectors. He also underscored the importance of CPEC for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and its vital role in enhancing regional connectivity, while expressing satisfaction at the steady progress of CPEC Phase-II.
Thanking the Prime Minister for his remarks, Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that China regarded Pakistan as an ironclad friend and all-weather strategic partner. He expressed China’s desire to elevate bilateral relations with Pakistan to new heights of cooperation and collaboration. Commending Pakistan’s resolute commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, he affirmed that China would continue working jointly with Pakistan, to promote regional peace, development, and stability.
