PM’s China visit to reinforce strategic ties: Fawad

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday underscored that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China would inject a “new impetus” to the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” between Islamabad and Beijing. The minister noted that the premier’s trip would take the “ironclad friendship” between Pakistan and China to new heights.

Both countries already enjoy important all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and now are moving towards close cooperation in sports and culture, he told APP. Fawad said PM Imran in his separate meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Kekiang would discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic ties especially the economic cooperation between the two countries.

Sharing details of the premier’s visit, he said PM Imran’s presence at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics fully demonstrated Pakistan’s support and solidarity with China. It also fully reflected the special feelings of the Pakistani people for their Chinese brethren, he added.
Fawad said the Pakistani contingent participating in the athletes’ parade in the National Stadium received a very warm welcome and applause from thousands of the Chinese spectators.

He noted that during the visit, the premier held a series of meetings with the executives of Chinese state-owned and private corporate sectors and invited them to invest in Pakistan and benefit from the business-friendly environment and policies offered by the present government.

About current progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), he said the mega project provided shortest land route between Western China and Pakistan.

He observed that Gwadar port had been connected with the rest of the country through highways and motorways. “We are taking measures to shift industries from China to this trade route which is very important for Pakistan. It will not only enhance the industrial production but also create a number of job opportunities in the country,” he added.

The minister maintained that both Pakistan and China shared similar views on regional and international issues, adding that both the countries wanted durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He said PM Imran would also discuss the Afghan issue with the Chinese leadership during his meetings. Over 40 million people in Afghanistan, facing instability for decades, as a result of war need immediate humanitarian assistance, he added.

He highlighted that Pakistan’s northern areas had world’s highest peaks, which were suitable for winter sports including skiing. “A comprehensive plan is being chalked out by the government of Gilgit-Baltistan in an effort to make the northern areas a hub of winter games,” he said.