Beijing (GNP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese Premier Li Qiang as Pakistan and China agreed to strengthen coordination, fast-track key projects, and advance their partnership toward high-quality, results-driven cooperation.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The Prime Minister thanked Premier Li Qiang for the warm reception and reaffirmed that the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He said that the iron-clad friendship between the two countries is rooted in mutual trust, strategic confidence and shared commitment to peace, development and prosperity.
The two leaders reiterated their support on all issues of core interests to both countries. They also agreed that CPEC has played a transformative role in socio-economic development of Pakistan. They looked forward to implementation of the next phase of CPEC.
The two leaders reviewed the whole spectrum of Pakistan-China relations and expressed satisfaction at the steady growth of bilateral cooperation in political, economic, strategic, security and people-to-people domains.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the 75th anniversary should be used to translate the historic goodwill between Pakistan and China into practical, people-centred and future-oriented outcomes. He underlined the importance of regular high-level exchanges and close coordination in carrying forward the bilateral partnership.
The Prime Minister underscored Pakistan’s commitment to high-quality development of CPEC and its next phase, with focus on industrialization, connectivity, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, clean energy and socio-economic development.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of building synergies between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Pakistan’s development framework, Uraan Pakistan, to accelerate Pakistan’s development priorities and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Prime Minister appreciated China’s consistent support to Pakistan’s national development and economic stability. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm resolve to ensure foolproof security of Chinese nationals, institutions and projects in Pakistan.
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The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of enhanced cooperation in emerging sectors, including space, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. He noted that the selection of Pakistani astronauts for China’s space station programme reflected the growing depth of Pakistan-China cooperation in new and strategic domains.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination, accelerate implementation of agreed projects and carry forward the Pakistan-China partnership into a new phase of practical, results-oriented and high-quality cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, Minister for IT Shaza Fatema Khawaja, Minister For Railways Hanif Abbasi, Advisor to Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi and were also present in the meeting.
