China acknowledges Pakistan’s efforts to execute CPEC projects

Beijing: China has reaffirmed its unwavering support to Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as on all issues of the country’s core national interest.

The reiteration came by President Xi Jinping during meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing on Wednesday.

The Chinese President appreciated government’s agenda for socio-economic development and people-centered progress. He underscored that China’s relationship with Pakistan was rock-solid and unbreakable and that strong vibrancy between the two countries would deepen and broaden in future.

President Xi Jinping lauded Pakistan’s efforts to expeditiously execute CPEC projects and stressed that it would help national and regional economic development process. He also lauded Pakistan’s efforts in combatting terrorism and maintained that Pakistan through institutional and economic reforms was resolutely and promisingly on the way to substantial economic development.

The two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

Prime Minister Imran Khan underscored that China was Pakistan’s steadfast ally, staunch partner and iron brother. He maintained that China had firmly stood by Pakistan in supporting Pakistan’s core national interests and played a major role in advancing Pakistan’s economic as well as national development goals.

Imran Khan affirmed that speedy completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects was number one priority of his government and that CPEC, an integral part of President Xi’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative, would play a transformational role in accelerating Pakistan’s economic development and promoting regional connectivity and prosperity.

The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support to China on all issues of its core interest.

Highlighting the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan underscored that the continued lockdown of millions of Kashmiris for over two months had created a dire humanitarian situation in held territory. The Prime Minister stressed the urgency to immediately lift curfew in Occupied Kashmir to alleviate the sufferings of the Kashmiris to avert risks to peace and security in the region.

Both leaders agreed that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan would promote economic development and connectivity in the region and expressed the resolve to continue to support peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Chinese President and Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed satisfaction over the close cooperation between the two countries at multilateral fora and resolved to further deepen strategic communication and coordination at all levels to strengthen Pakistan-China All Weather Strategic Co-operation. They also agreed to keep the momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister, Minister of Planning, Development and Reform, Minister of Railways, Adviser on Commerce, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Energy and Chairman BOI. Chief of Army Staff, DG ISI and other senior officials were also present during meeting.

The meeting was followed by a luncheon banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping in honour of the Prime Minister.

According to a press release issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO), the meeting was followed by a luncheon banquet hosted by President Xi in honour of the PM Khan.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Khusro Bakhtiar, Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Abdul Razzak Dawood, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Energy and Chairman Board of Investment Zubair Gillani. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed and other officials were also present in the meeting.

According to the PM Office, the premier thanked President Xi and the Chinese government for its principled stance on the Kashmir issue, particularly mentioning Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s stance on the dispute at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The PM shared his views that China had supported Pakistan in all difficult times.

According to the press release, Prime Minister Imran briefed Xi about the current situation in the country, sharing that Pakistan had recovered from the difficult economic situation. “We will never forget China’s financial cooperation in this regard […] China had helped Pakistan without any conditionality […] Pakistan and China are all-weather friends and strategic cooperative partners,” he went on to say.

The premier congratulated the Chinese president on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and expressed his gratitude to him for the warm welcome for the Pakistani delegation in Beijing.

President Xi lauded the premier for speaking about Pakistan and China’s relations during the UNGA, and mentioned that both countries enjoy close friendly relations and cooperated with each other in different fields.