China backs Shehbaz govt to bring economic stability

Both countries agree to play positive and constructive role in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD:

China has thrown its weight behind the Shehbaz Sharif government, congratulating Pakistan on holding "successful general elections" and expressing "good wishes" for the new administration to promote economic development and prosperity.

The statement from Pakistan's all-weather strategic partner came at the end of the Pak-China Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing this week. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi co-chaired the annual meeting to review bilateral ties and discuss a host of regional and international issues.

"China congratulated Pakistan on holding successful general elections and expressed good wishes to the new Pakistani government in leading the Pakistani people in their endeavour to maintain stability and security and promote economic development and prosperity," read a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office on Thursday.

The statement is seen as significant against the backdrop of allegations levelled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that its mandate was stolen and the current government lacks legitimacy.

Read: Chinese envoy explores future of Pakistan-China strategic collaboration

China never publicly comments on Pakistan's domestic political issues but privately has always been keen to see political stability in the country.

During the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on the entire range of bilateral relations and cooperation, including strategic, economic, political, defence and security, trade, investment and commerce, and cultural and people-to-people domains.

International and regional issues of shared interest were also discussed, and the two sides reached a consensus to collectively take measures to safeguard their common interests, promote the socio-economic development of the peoples of the two countries, and work together to promote peace, development, and prosperity in the region.

Both sides reiterated that Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, sharing an unbreakable ironclad friendship and strategic mutual trust. The healthy and robust growth of Pakistan-China relations is of immense strategic significance for regional peace, development, and stability.

The two sides will implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhance exchanges at all levels, deepen experience-sharing in state governance, further enhance win-win cooperation in all areas, and accelerate the building of an even closer Pakistan-China community with a shared future in the new era.

Also read: Pak, China agree to play positive, constructive role in Afghanistan

Pakistan spoke highly of China’s major development achievements in the new era under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, appreciated China’s people-centred development philosophy, and believed that the Chinese path to modernisation provides a new option and practical solution for developing countries to achieve independent development.

The two sides reaffirmed their unyielding support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.

The Pakistani side reaffirmed its firm commitment to the One-China principle and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Pakistan firmly supported the Chinese government’s every effort to achieve national reunification and opposes any form of “Taiwan independence.”

The joint statement noted that Pakistan firmly supports China on issues concerning Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea. The Chinese side reiterated its steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, national independence, and territorial integrity, in pursuing a development path suited to Pakistan’s national conditions and achieving economic prosperity, in firmly combating terrorism, and in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs.

The two sides strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Chinese convoy of the Dasu Hydropower Project in Pakistan on March 26, 2024, and emphasised that no attempt to undermine China-Pakistan cooperation will ever succeed.

In keeping with its ironclad friendship with China, the Pakistani side will hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice, take more effective security measures, and make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. The Chinese side recognised Pakistan’s contributions and sacrifices in combating terrorism over the years.

The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with a “zero tolerance” attitude and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and security through a comprehensive approach.

Calling on the international community to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, the two sides expressed their firm opposition to double standards on counter-terrorism.

The two sides will work together to deepen and substantiate China’s eight major steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and forge an “upgraded version” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by jointly building a growth corridor, a livelihood-enhancing corridor, an innovation corridor, a green corridor, and an open corridor by aligning them with Pakistan’s development framework and priorities.

The two sides agreed to accelerate progress on major connectivity projects, including the upgradation of ML-1, the Gwadar Port, and the realignment of Karakoram Highway Phase II, strengthen cooperation in agriculture, industrial parks, mining, information technology, and other fields according to local conditions, and enhance Pakistan’s capacity for sustainable development.

The two sides believe that the Khunjerab Pass plays an important role in promoting bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges, and agreed to speed up efforts to ensure that the Khunjerab Pass can function year-round.

The two sides discussed ongoing energy cooperation and agreed to further enhance it. They also agreed to further strengthen financial and banking cooperation, including support for each other at regional and international forums.

The Pakistani side appreciated China for providing support for its fiscal and financial sectors and assistance in the face of floods and other natural disasters.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with their expanding space cooperation and agreed to further build on it for a peaceful and mutually beneficial exploration of space.

Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia, the need for the resolution of all outstanding disputes, and their opposition to any unilateral action.

The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is a legacy of history and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements.

The two sides reiterated their readiness to further enhance cooperation under the framework of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative.

Pakistan highly commended China’s efforts to safeguard the rights of developing countries for sustainable development. The two sides expressed satisfaction over cooperation in multilateral regimes such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and agreed to strengthen coordination and collaboration to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, support for multilateralism and free trade, and opposition to the creation of “small circles” and bloc confrontation.

The two sides agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on the Afghanistan issue. They called for concerted efforts by the international community to help Afghanistan properly address challenges in areas such as the humanitarian situation and economic development, and encourage Afghanistan to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, pursue good-neighbourliness, and firmly combat terrorism, including not allowing its territory to be used for terrorist acts.

Both sides agreed to play a positive and constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve stable development and integrate into the international community.

The two sides reiterated that the fundamental solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. The resolution adopted by the UN Security Council is legally binding and should be enforced effectively to achieve an unconditional and lasting ceasefire immediately.

The international community should increase input into the Palestinian question with a greater sense of urgency, step up efforts to facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and strive for enduring peace.

The two sides reiterated that as good neighbours, good friends, good partners, and good brothers, Pakistan and China will promote their ironclad ties, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and upgrade strategic cooperation to break new ground and set new goals in their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.