BEIJING – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has reiterated China’s firm support toPakistan in defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimaterights, saying his country had always regarded its relations with Pakistanas a priority in neighbouring diplomacy.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan at Great Hall of thePeople in Beijing, he said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategiccooperative partners.
Li Keqiang said China will continue to support Pakistan in not only itsnational development, but also regional and international affairs byhelping it play a more active role.
He called for joint efforts to strengthen the bilateral ties to a new stageas the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries servedboth national and regional interests.
Premier Li also expressed satisfaction over the economic situation inPakistan and vowed to offer it assistance.
Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasized that expeditious completion of ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects is the foremost priority of hisgovernment.
Premier Li was apprised of the actions undertaken recently to fast-trackCPEC projects and to push the development momentum in Gwadar.
The two sides exchanged views on deepening bilateral trade and exploredways of increasing Pakistan’s exports to China.
Both the leaders agreed that the implementation of the second phase ofChina-Pakistan FTA will lead to more trade, economic and investmentopportunities between the two countries.
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The two sides also discussed regional security situation, including serioushuman rights and humanitarian situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu andKashmir.
Briefing media after the meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan andPremier Li Keqiang, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui said both thePrime Minister agreed to further advance the development of theirrelations, and to step up exchanges and strategic coordination at variouslevels.
The Chinese vice foreign minister said the two sides also agreed toconduct the ninth meeting of the joint cooperation committee on CPEC nextmonth in Pakistan on agreements on 27 projects to improve people’s wellbeing.
He said China highly commended Pakistan’s unremitting efforts and hugesacrifices that it has made in fighting terrorism and supported Pakistan’seffort to conduct anti-terrorism campaign to the very end.
He said the two sides also exchanged views on relations between Pakistanand India, besides Afghanistan and the situation in the Gulf area.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui said Prime Minister Imran Khanwill also be meeting President Xi Jinping and Chairman of the NationalPeople’s Congress on Wednesday (October 9, 2019), besides attending theclosing ceremony of Beijing international Horticultural Exhibition 2019.
