Qureshi, Chinese FM discuss Afghan crisis

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed the grave humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Qureshi, who accompanied Prime Minister Imran Khan on his visit to Beijing, also briefed the Chinese minister about the gross human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the systemic assaults on the freedoms of minorities in the neighbouring country.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Qureshi congratulated his Chinese counterpart on the successful hosting of the Winter Olympics and conveyed his best wishes on the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Recalling their last meeting in Chengdu for the third round of Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue, the foreign minister appreciated the measures taken by the two sides to strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.

Qureshi expressed his gratitude to the Chinese minister for his country's firm support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national development. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support to China on all issues of its core interest.
 

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He underlined that PM Imran's face-to-face meetings with the Chinese leadership would provide fresh momentum to the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.

“On Afghanistan, both sides appreciated the important role played by the meeting of the six neighbouring countries in evolving regional consensus and looked forward to its third meeting to be held in China. It was agreed to maintain closer coordination to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and regional connectivity," the FO statement read.

Addressing the media in Islamabad after his return from China, Qureshi said PM Imran held very comprehensive meetings with the Chinese leadership and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties during his just concluded visit to Beijing.

“We are encouraged and received warmth more than our expectations. China has a clear direction in which Pakistan has a prominent position,” he added.

The foreign minister said meetings on the issues of Afghanistan, CPEC and IIOJK were held extensively and with much clarity.

Over Afghanistan, both the countries shared unanimous opinion. Pakistan’s contributions towards Afghan humanitarian assistance were acknowledged by China, Qureshi said, adding that the Chinese leadership viewed the holding of the extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan as a successful one.

The foreign minister said that during the meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, they agreed to meet again in Beijing in March. The immediate neighbours of Afghanistan would be invited to a meeting including Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and others.

Referring to India, the foreign minister said that they were concerned over treatment of minorities, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits as their human rights were being trampled.

“China and Pakistan shared the same opinion and there was no ambiguity over the IIOJK issue,” he maintained.

During the delegation-level talks and meeting with Premier Li, they discussed ways and means to move on the economic front, enhance market access, bridge the trade imbalance and increase Chinese investment in different areas.

Qureshi said Pakistan had identified areas where the Chinese companies could receive benefits through investment.

“These are the win-win projects and we have conveyed these economic prospects to the Chinese companies through a well-prepared booklet,” he added.

The prime minister, he said, held meetings with about 20 prominent State and private companies in which their authorities had identified interests over investment in key areas of Pakistan.

“The prime minister also shared Pakistan’s perspective over a host of issues during his interaction with the renowned think-tanks in China.”

The foreign minister said during the splendid opening ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics, the Pakistani athletes were warmly received by the Chinese – reflecting that this friendship was “people-centric”.

Speaking on the occasion, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the Chinese leadership had appreciated the government’s economic reforms and fiscal discipline.

Terming the prime minister’s visit to China as “highly successful”, he expressed the confidence that it would bring further stability to the country’s economy.

“The ties between Pakistan and China are not only changing the regional picture but also changing the economic situation,” he added.

(With input from APP)