PM Imran's visit to China 'highly successful': FM Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday termed Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent visit to China as 'timely and highly successful'.

"The joint statement issued at the conclusion of the visit reflects its success," Qureshi said in a statement.

A day earlier, PM Imran concluded his visit to China. The premier held a meeting with President Xi Jinping and welcomed increased Chinese investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) Phase-II, which focuses on industrialisation and improving people’s livelihoods.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders since the premier’s visit to the country in October 2019. Imran underscored the relationship between the two countries as the “cornerstone” of Islamabad’s foreign policy.

Regarding the PM's visit, the foreign minister said the two sides held detailed discussions on bilateral cooperation and regional situation, including Afghanistan.

Read More: PM Imran, President Xi vow to protect CPEC

"The two countries are committed to early completion of second phase projects of CPEC. Spoilers do not want to see CPEC progressing; however, they will never succeed in their designs," Quershi said.

He added that it was decided that a meeting of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries would be convened in Beijing by the end of the next month to discuss the future strategy.

"The Afghan interim government will also be invited to the meeting," FM Qureshi said.

Regarding relations with Russia, the country's top diplomat said that Pakistan's relations with the country were also on a positive trajectory.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit his country, and the prime minister will visit Moscow this month," the FM said.

During the meeting with the Chinese leader, He emphasised that the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China had withstood the tests of times and the two nations firmly stood side-by-side in realising their visions and shared aspirations of peace, stability, development and prosperity.

PM Imran briefed President Xi on the people-centred geoeconomics vision and the government’s policies for Pakistan’s sustained growth, industrial development, agricultural modernisation and regional connectivity.

The two sides highlighted, during the moot, the significance of Gwadar as a central pillar of CPEC and an important node in regional connectivity.

The two sides also agreed to jointly accelerate the construction and operation of Gwadar Port and build its low-carbon circular industry zone.

During the interaction, Pakistan also reaffirmed its commitment to the security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.