Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Friday, where both leaders pledged to deepen the longstanding relationship between their nations. Emphasizing the importance of China-Pakistan ties, Xi called for collaborative efforts to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
“China and Pakistan are good neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, good friends who share faith and righteousness, good partners who help each other, and good brothers who share weal and woe,” Xi stated. He highlighted the continuous deepening of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, noting its strong public support and broad prospects for development.
Xi reaffirmed China’s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to support each other firmly, strengthen cooperation, and deepen strategic coordination. He expressed the desire to accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, contributing to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
Discussing economic collaboration, Xi emphasized promoting alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan’s development plans. He proposed expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, and social welfare, tailored to local conditions. “China is willing to create an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and build a growth corridor, a livelihood-enhancing corridor, an innovation corridor, a green corridor, and an open corridor with Pakistan,” Xi said, aiming to promote high-quality CPEC construction and aid Pakistan’s economic and social development.
President Xi also expressed hope that Pakistan would provide a safe, stable, and predictable business environment, ensuring the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and organizations operating in the country.
Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep appreciation for China’s support and initiatives. He acknowledged the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Xi, stating that they offer strategic guidance for addressing global challenges and fostering a more peaceful world.
The Pakistani Prime Minister praised the significant impact of the CPEC on Pakistan’s national development, delivering tangible benefits to its people. “Pakistan will learn from China’s experience in governance, continue to build high-quality Belt and Road projects with China, and deepen practical cooperation in various fields,” Shehbaz said.
Addressing security concerns, Shehbaz extended his condolences over past incidents affecting Chinese citizens in Pakistan and vowed to enhance measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and organizations. “We will resolutely crack down on and severely punish the terrorists involved,” he emphasized.
Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the one-China principle, stating that the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China’s territory. “Pakistan will continue to support China’s position on all issues concerning its core interests, including those related to the Taiwan region, Xizang, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea,” he affirmed.
Concluding the meeting, Shehbaz underscored the unbreakable bond between the two nations. “No force can stop China’s development and growth, and no force can shake the ironclad friendship between Pakistan and China,” he declared. “The Pakistani side will always be China’s most reliable friend and partner.”
Reference(s):
Xi Jinping hails China-Pakistan ties in talks with Shehbaz Sharif
cgtn.com
