BEIJING: China and Pakistan in a joint statement issued here Sunday at the end of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s official visit to Beijing reaffirmed their complete consensus on the future trajectory of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
There is a complete agreement on both sides for timely completion of the on-going CPEC’s related projects and making joint efforts for realization of corridor’s full potential with a focus on socio-economic development, job creation and livelihoods and accelerating cooperation in industrial development, industrial parks and agriculture.
While showing a strong Will and commitment to ensure their decades’ old relationship ever-growing in all sectors of bilateral interest, the two sides decided to further strengthening their all-round strategic cooperative partnership, building closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the New Era.
The joint statement says, “ At the invitation of the Chinese Li Keqiang, Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan paid his first official visit to China on November 2-5, 2018.
During his visit, Imran Khan called on President Xi Jinping, held talks with Premier Li Keqiang and met with Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and Wang Qishan, Vice President of China respectively.
Meetings were marked by traditional warmth, mutual understanding and trust, and the leaders of the two countries had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also delivered speech at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. Reviewing with satisfaction the historical development of China-Pakistan relations and the great strides made, both sides reiterated that the friendship between Pakistan and China has withstood the test of time, notwithstanding the changes in domestic, regional and international environments.
The two sides agreed to further strengthen the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and build closer China-Pakistan community of shared future in the new era in line with the principles set forth by the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good-neighborly Relations between the two countries signed in 2005.
Pushing forward, political relations and strategic Communication, both sides stressed that China andPakistan are good neighbors, close friends, iron brothers and trusted partners.
The friendship and cooperation between China and Pakistan serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and beyond.
Both sides will continue to view China-Pakistan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday termed the multibillion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a blessing for Pakistan and an opportunity to attract foreign investment in the cash-starved country.
He was addressing a ceremony at the Central Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, during his first official visit to China since assuming charge as the Prime Minister of Pakistan in August this year.
“We need foreign investments more than ever before, because we have a current account deficit,” the Pakistani premier said, a day after he invited Chinese businessmen to explore Pakistan’s vast investment potential. “China, through CPEC, has given Pakistan an opportunity to attract [foreign] investments. CPEC is a blessing for Pakistan, it’s very important for the country, it’s an opportunity to attract investments,” he said. Agencies