BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime MinisterShahid Khaqan Abbasi in the Boao State Guesthouse in the Hainan Province onTuesday and expressed his wish to complete the China-Pakistan EconomicCorridor (CPEC) projects on timely basis.

PM Abbasi on the occasion said that Pakistan and China are iron brothersand have consistently supported each other on issues involving coreinterests and major concerns.

Pakistan acknowledged China’s important role in maintaining peace andstability in the region and the world. The prime minister said Pakistan iswilling to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation between thetwo countries in international affairs.

Jinping said that the strategic partnership of Pakistan and China hasweathered all and has made great progress since he visited Pakistan in 2015.

PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi shared that Pakistan’s economy is growing at 6% perannum, the highest in a decade

China-Pakistan relations should become a model for good-neighbourlyfriendship, a pillar for peace and stability in the region, and a benchmarkfor international cooperation in the “Belt and Road Initiative,” he said.

According to *Xinhua *news, Xi said China is ready to work with Pakistan toplay a leading role in bilateral relations through high-level exchanges,maintain close exchanges in various fields, promote traditional friendship,continue to support each other, deepen the relationship, and promote thedevelopment of a higher level of Sino-Pakistani relations.

He further said both sides should continue to steadily advance theconstruction of CPEC projects and plan timely completion of projects suchas Gwadar Port infrastructure, energy, and industrial parks.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China hopes to see Pakistan develop steadily,prosperous and firmly supports Pakistan efforts to safeguard nationalsovereignty, territorial integrity, and its interests.