Pakistan fully committed to success of CPEC, PM assures Chinese vice FM

Kakar stresses the need for both sides to continue to work closely to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects

ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday said that Pakistan was fully committed to the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and stressed the need for both sides to continue to work closely to ensure timely completion of the ongoing projects.

He was talking to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who paid a courtesy call on him. The prime minister welcomed the Chinese vice foreign minister as well as members of his delegation and said Pakistan deeply valued its all-weather, strategic, cooperative partnership with China.

Recalling his visit to Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum in October 2023, he said that he was deeply touched by the warm sentiments of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang towards Pakistan. He also conveyed his best wishes to the Chinese leadership.

Read more: China's vice FM visits GHQ, discusses defence ties with COAS

In addition to Pakistan-China relations, the regional situation also came under discussion during the meeting. The Chinese vice foreign minister thanked the prime minister for the courtesy call and briefed him regarding various meetings held during the visit.

𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 🇵🇰
𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 🇨🇳

🔺#Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong paid a courtesy call on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar @anwaar_kakar earlier today.

The Prime Minister… pic.twitter.com/MUMnnL1l2X

— Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) January 22, 2024

He conveyed special greetings of the Chinese leadership to the prime minister. He said that China and Pakistan were “iron-brothers”. He assured that China would always remain a reliable partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic progress.

Earlier in the day,  Weidong also met with General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), at the General Headquarters (GHQ). 

The meeting involved discussions on matters of mutual interest and measures to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation between Pakistan and China, according to an Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) statement.

During the meeting, the Chinese diplomat reiterated the strong and enduring nature of the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China and said that Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic partners.

He acknowledged Pakistan's efforts in promoting regional peace and stability and expressed China's satisfaction with the security arrangements for the CPEC projects.

Last week, VFM Sun visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and along with Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi inaugurated the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Corner at the library of MoFA.