Shehbaz apprises Xi of CPEC’s transformational impact

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinpig for the first time since assuming the office of the prime minister on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Silk Road city of Samakand on Friday.

The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and international issues of mutual interest, including climate change, pandemics and growing inequalities at the international level, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Shehbaz briefed Xi about his government’s policies for Pakistan’s sustained growth, industrial development, agricultural modernisation, and regional connectivity, making a special mention of the “transformational impact” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Pakistan’s socio-economic development.

Both leaders also welcomed the signing of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement on ML-1 Railway Project, the statement said. The prime minister reaffirmed his personal resolve to take the bilateral ties to greater heights.

According to the statement, the Chinese president, in his welcoming remarks, described Shehbaz as “a person of pragmatism and efficiency”. He also said that the Shehbaz was a leader with “a longstanding commitment to China-Pakistan friendship”.

Shehbaz expressed his gratitude towards China for extending support to the country as it battled catastrophic floods. He condoled with Xi over the loss of life in the earthquake in Sichuan Province on September 5, 2022.

Underscoring the significance of the forum provided by the SCO members to further their shared vision and mutual values into concrete plans for regional cooperation and integration, Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s consistent and unwavering support to China on all issues of its core interest, including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

He also extended his gratitude to China for its support to the country on matters, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), national development, Covid-19 pandemic among others.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met with Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jormat Tokayev on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

In the meeting with Erdogan, the prime minister extended his gratitude to the president and the people of Turkiye for their solidarity and generous support in the wake of devastating floods in Pakistan.

While welcoming the recent signing of "Trade in Goods" agreement between both countries, the prime minister expressed the confidence that optimal utilization of the agreement would boost bilateral trade and act as a catalyst in further cementing bilateral economic and investment relations.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan expressed their mutual resolve to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including trade, energy and defence. The two sides also emphasised strengthening the people-to-people contacts.

Shehbaz thanked Azerbaijan for provision of generous financial assistance for the flood affected people. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support to Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh and congratulated on the historic success in liberation of its occupied territories.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz met with Kazakh President Tokayev and discussed bilateral ties and also exchanged views on the issues of regional and international importance.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)