Pak-China vow mutual support on ‘core issues’

PM Imran discusses strategic relations with counterpart Li; meets Chinese entrepreneurs

BEIJING:

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday reaffirmed the centrality of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reiterated support on each other’s issues of core interest.

“Strategic ties between Pakistan and China serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and are a factor in regional peace and stability,” PM Imran said during a meeting with Premier Li.

The PM, who is on a four-day visit to China, was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and other senior officials.

Imran held wide-ranging talks with Li in which he congratulated him for organising Beijing Winter Olympics.
The interaction between the two leaders was marked by traditional sentiments of warmth, deep mutual trust and understanding.

During the meeting, they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties including discussions on the bilateral economic and trade relations, onward march of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and important issues of regional and global concern.

Premier Imran added that successful celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations held last year injected a new impetus to bilateral friendship.

The PM thanked the Chinese government for support and assistance to Pakistan in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and timely supply of vaccines.

The prime minister appreciated the transformational impact of CPEC on Pakistan’s infrastructure, energy, socio-economic development and improvement in livelihoods of the people.

Read: "Pakistan moves to address China’s Gwadar concerns"

He underlined that Pakistan was committed to high-quality development of CPEC through its mutually reinforcing industrial, trade, health, digital and green corridors.

The PM shared with Premier Li the measures taken by the government to provide policy guidance and support for enhanced Chinese investments in the CPEC SEZs and Special Technology Zones, and for safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan.

Exchanging views on the regional security situation, the prime minister highlighted the serious situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as well as the importance of urgent action by the international community to alleviate sufferings of the Kashmiris.

He also underscored the importance of Pakistan and China working together to promote shared objectives of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and regional connectivity.

The two leaders agreed to work closely on further deepening bilateral economic engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to further advance the multifaceted strategic cooperative ties and building the Pakistan-China community of shared future in the new era.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Imran held an important meeting with China’s top power and engineering companies on increasing investment in Pakistan’s energy sector.

Renewable energy and improvement in irrigation infrastructure topped the discussion during the online meeting with China Energy and Engineering Corporation Chairman Dr Song Hailiang and Power China Chairman Dr Ding Yanzhang.

PM Imran also concluded his meetings with business leaders of China.

The executives who met the PM included chairmen of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), East Sea Group, China Railway Group Limited (CREC), China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC), Beijing Century Industrial Development Co Ltd (CENTINCO) and the CHINAMEX Group.

During the meetings, the Chinese businesspersons briefed the PM on the progress of their ongoing projects in Pakistan and future investment plans worth billions of dollars in the fields of energy, refining, petrochemical, infrastructure development, water management, information and communication technology (ICT), and housing.

Read: "CPEC – a ray of hope for Pakistan"

China Energy is a Fortune 500 conglomerate operating in the fields of energy, water management, transportation and construction; CSCEC’s major areas of focus are communications and engineering; Power China provides services in the energy and water sectors; East Sea Group is an international energy and chemical trading company; CREC focuses on engineering, real estate development, railways and mining sectors; MCC is the world’s largest metallurgical construction contractor; CENTINCO specialises in industrial, infrastructure refining and petrochemical projects; and CHINAMEX Group has carried out urban development projects in several countries.

Appreciating the interests of Chinese companies for enhancing business ties with Pakistan, the PM highlighted that the government of Pakistan had offered many incentives to foreign enterprises especially from China for investment in Pakistan SEZs. He assured that Pakistan would continue to support and facilitate the Chinese companies for their expanded footprints in Pakistan.