Pakistan, China reaffirm resolve to deepen bilateral ties

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, China’s Sun Weidong discuss second phase of CPEC, mutual ties in Beijing

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Pakistan and China on Saturday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across various sectors, amid growing regional and global challenges.

The reaffirmation came during a meeting between Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in Beijing, where both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, with a particular focus on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Iqbal praised Beijing’s consistent support for Pakistan, especially during recent tensions with India, and commended China's leadership for its role in promoting global peace. He also described the Pakistan-China friendship as growing stronger “with every passing day” and termed China's development model an inspiration for Pakistan.

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Vice Foreign Minister Sun reiterated China’s strong commitment to enhancing cooperation with Islamabad and expressed satisfaction with progress made under CPEC. He reaffirmed Beijing’s intent to further strengthen strategic ties and deepen collaboration in political, economic, and regional affairs.

The meeting underscored the long-standing partnership between the two countries, often described as “all-weather” and “ironclad,” and came days after a high-level interaction between the leadership of both nations.

Last month, Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Beijing. The Chinese foreign minister had emphasized that Pakistan remains a diplomatic priority for China and reiterated support for Pakistan's efforts to combat all forms of terrorism.

Wang expressed confidence in the Pakistani military’s ability to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions across the country. He also reaffirmed China’s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to implement the strategic consensus reached by the leadership of both sides and jointly promote regional peace and stability.