Robust China-Pakistan ties vital for regional peace, development: Chinese president

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Beijing, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

As reported by China Daily, Xi said that as “global changes unseen in a century” accelerate, a robust China-Pakistan relationship is vital for safeguarding regional peace and development. He urged both sides to fast-track efforts to build a “closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era,” which he said would not only benefit the two peoples but also serve as a model for the wider region.

The Chinese president said Beijing was prepared to work with Islamabad on “upgraded versions” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.

He also called on Pakistan to take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions operating in the country.

PM Shehbaz, for his part, said that Pakistan fully supported Xi’s Global Governance Initiative, describing it as “of great significance for world peace, development and stability.”

He pledged Pakistan’s active participation in its implementation.

The PM reiterated Pakistan’s adherence to the one-China principle and expressed his government’s determination to further strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation in all fields.

He also assured Xi that Pakistan would “spare no effort” to guarantee the security of Chinese citizens and projects in the country.