BEIJING: China and Pakistan have reaffirmed their support to CPEC’s high-quality development and the commitment to ensure the smooth operation of completed projects and the timely completion of projects under construction.
This understanding reached during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing during his four-day visit to China. Both sides acknowledged the major contribution of CPEC projects, particularly in the areas of energy and transport infrastructure, in strengthening Pakistan’s key role in regional connectivity.
Radio Pakistan reported that the two sides agreed to jointly accelerate the construction and operation of Gwadar Port. They are set to build high-quality livelihood projects for the socio-economic development of Gwadar city.
They are keen to consolidate bilateral trade relations by fully utilizing the 2nd Phase of Pakistan-China Free Trade Agreement.
China welcomed more of Pakistan’s high-quality food and agricultural products to its market. Welcoming the establishment of Pakistan’s pavilions on Chinese e-commerce platforms, the two sides also agreed to further strengthen cooperation in e-commerce and setting up online payment systems Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked Chinese leadership
for provision of COVID-19 vaccines to Pakistan which have been a mainstay of national mass vaccination drive.
Both sides reiterated the importance of people-to-people contacts, tourism cooperation and cultural exchanges for strong bilateral relations. The two leaders agreed to celebrate Pakistan-China Year of Tourism Exchanges in 2023 and establish strong linkages between the tourism promotion agencies.
They are set to make all possible efforts to expand cooperation for the conservation and presentation of heritage and artefacts of the two countries. On the defence cooperation, the leaders are eager to continue the momentum at various levels between the armed forces of Pakistan and China.
They underscored that stronger defence and security cooperation between Pakistan and China is an important factor of peace and stability in the region. The Pakistan side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chinese side reiterated that the Kashmir issue should be peacefully resolved under the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions. On Afghanistan, the two sides underscored the need to expedite humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and its people to avert the looming crisis. During the visit, the two sides signed and concluded a number of agreements, covering bilateral cooperation in a number of sectors.
Meanwhile, while exchanging views with Chinese President Xi Jinping on growing polarization in the world on Sunday Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasized on all nations cooperation to address prevailing challenges in climate change, health pandemics and other issues saying it would only possible to ensure implementation of purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping Sunday reviewed the entire gamut of Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, in a warm and cordial atmosphere.
He shared his views with President Xi on growing polarisation in the world which threatened unraveling of global developmental gains, and posed serious risks to the developing countries. He highlighted that insurmountable challenges like climate change, health pandemics and growing inequalities could only be tackled through unqualified cooperation of all nations in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Both leaders held a meeting at the Great Hall of People. This was the first meeting of the two leaders since the Prime Minister’s visit to China in October 2019. The prime minister underscored that China was Pakistan’s steadfast partner, staunch supporter and ‘Iron Brother’.
The all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China had withstood the tests of times and the two nations firmly stood side by side in realizing their visions and shared aspirations of peace, stability, development and prosperity, he added.
The prime minister briefed president Xi on people-centered geo-economics vision and his government’s policies for Pakistan’s sustained growth, industrial development, agricultural modernization, and regional connectivity.
He lauded China’s continued support and assistance to Pakistan’s socio-economic development which had greatly benefitted from the high-quality development of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Prime Minister Khan welcomed increased Chinese investments in CPEC’s Phase-II which centered on industrialisation and improving people’s livelihoods. He lauded president Xi’s visionary Belt and Road and Global Development Initiatives which called for collective action for sustainable development and win-win outcomes. The prime minister highlighted that the atrocities being perpetrated in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and the persecution of minorities in India in advancing the Hindutva mindset of RSS-BJP, was a threat to regional peace and stability.
He said that the rapid militarization of India was undermining regional stability. Prime minister Khan highlighted that partnership between Pakistan and China was an anchor for peace and stability in the region and thanked China for its unwavering support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national development.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support to China on all issues of its core interest. Both leaders acknowledged that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan would promote economic development and connectivity in the region and called on the international community to promptly assist the Afghan people in averting a humanitarian catastrophe.
Both leaders appreciated the signing of a number of agreements covering industrial cooperation, space cooperation, and vaccine cooperation. The two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to building of the Pakistan-China community for shared future in the new era.
Prime minister Imran Khan congratulated the leadership and people of China on successful hosting of the 24th Olympic Winter Games in Beijing and extended his best wishes on the Chinese Lunar New Year. He also renewed his invitation to President Xi Jinping to undertake a visit to Pakistan at his early convenience. – TLTP