President Asif Zardari announced plans to visit China next month to reconnect with old friends and strengthen bilateral ties during a state luncheon with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Their discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and China, particularly regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
Premier Li acknowledged President Zardari’s contributions to promoting Pakistan-China relations and emphasized the importance of expediting development projects under CPEC. He assured Zardari of ongoing support from Chinese companies for investments in Pakistan, expressing optimism about the future of bilateral relations.
Li appreciated Pakistan’s consistent backing of China on core issues, including the “One China” policy and territorial integrity, reiterating China’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s sovereignty and prosperity.
Zardari highlighted the significance of the Pakistan-China friendship in the country’s foreign policy, urging the exploration of new avenues for cooperation and connectivity to bolster trade and people-to-people linkages. He noted the potential for Chinese companies to invest in the Pakistan Stock Exchange and emphasized leveraging China’s economic growth through CPEC and the Gwadar Port.
Also Read: President Zardari and PM Shehbaz Send Independence Day Greetings on the 77th Anniversary
The president also expressed condolences for the recent loss of two Chinese nationals in a terrorist attack in Karachi, affirming Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the security of Chinese workers in the country and tracking down the perpetrators of the attack.
During Premier Li’s visit to Pakistan from October 14 to 17, he engaged in talks with various officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. The two sides reached a consensus on deepening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and discussed enhancing political, security, and economic cooperation.
A joint statement emphasized both nations’ commitment to a multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization, reinforcing their partnership in CPEC and the development of key infrastructure projects like the Karachi-Hyderabad section of the Mainline (ML)-1.
