In a significant display of solidarity, Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the deepening ties between China and Pakistan during his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Friday.
Xi highlighted the enduring friendship and strategic cooperation that bind the two nations, describing China and Pakistan as good neighbors, friends, partners, and brothers who support each other through thick and thin.
The Chinese leader emphasized the continuous growth of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, noting its strong public support and promising prospects for future development. He called for enhanced cooperation, deeper strategic coordination, and the acceleration of efforts to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
Xi reiterated China's commitment to supporting Pakistan in defending its national sovereignty, pursuing a development path aligned with its national conditions, and combating terrorism. He expressed readiness to align the Belt and Road Initiative with Pakistan's development plans, aiming to create an upgraded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) encompassing growth, livelihood-enhancing, innovation, green, and open corridors to boost Pakistan's economic and social development.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reciprocated Xi's sentiments, acknowledging Pakistan's strong support for China's Global Development, Security, and Civilization Initiatives. He highlighted the tangible benefits that the CPEC has brought to Pakistan's national development and affirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to the one-China principle, reaffirming that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
The leaders stressed the importance of creating a safe and stable business environment for Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan and pledged to strengthen coordination within multilateral frameworks like the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Their discussions underscored a mutual dedication to promoting regional peace, stability, and inclusive economic globalization.
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Xi Jinping hails China-Pakistan ties in talks with Shehbaz Sharif
cgtn.com
