Pakistan, China resolve to strengthen strategic partnership as PM Imran concludes visit – Pakistan

Pakistan and China reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen their bilateral strategic partnership, a joint statement issued after the conclusion of Prime Minister Imran Khan's two-day visit to Beijing said on Wednesday.

The prime minister visited China at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, starting Tuesday.

During the visit, the prime minister called the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the prime minister Li and the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Li Zhanshu. He also met Chinese entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs.

The prime minister attended the closing ceremony of the Beijing Horticulture Expo 2019 as the main guest. He congratulated the leaders and the Chinese people on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

He congratulated China for its remarkable growth and stressed that China's process of reform and openness was a model for developing countries.

The two sides reaffirmed their support in matters related to the central interests of each. Chinese leaders expressed solidarity with Pakistan to safeguard their territorial sovereignty, independence and security. Pakistan's side reaffirmed its commitment to the One China Policy.

"Supporting the systems of one country two, Pakistan reiterated that Hong Kong's affairs were internal affairs of China and that all countries should respect international law and the basic rules of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries," reads in the joint press release.

The Pakistani side informed the Chinese side about the situation in Kashmir occupied by India. The Chinese side responded that it was "paying close attention" to the current situation in occupied Kashmir and reiterated that the issue is a dispute that remains in history and should be resolved peacefully based on the UN Charter, the relevant resolutions of the Council UN Security and bilateral agreements. .

"China opposes any unilateral action that complicates the situation," the statement said, adding that the two sides stressed that a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia was in the common interest of all parties.

CPEC, bilateral cooperation

Both sides argued that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will promote industrial and socio-economic development in Pakistan. The Pakistani delegation stressed that the port of Gwadar has received several facilities that allow it to become a commercial and logistics center for the region.

"The two sides expressed their determination to quickly execute CPEC so that its growth potential can be fully realized, making it a high-quality demonstration project for the Belt and Road Initiative," according to the statement.

Both parties agreed to jointly study projects identified in the energy, oil, gas, agriculture, industrial and infrastructure sectors. These projects were entrusted to the Joint Working Groups concerned for their deliberation and subsequent consideration by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC).

The two sides maintained a deep exchange of views on the deepening of bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, finance, defense and security, education, agriculture, social sector, contacts between people and cultural ties.

They agreed that the early implementation of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement would contribute to an increase in bilateral trade.

During the visit, Prime Minister Imran and Chinese Prime Minister Li witnessed the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding.

Prime Minister Imran thanked the Chinese leadership for providing opportunities for Pakistani students to study in China.

The leaders reviewed the bilateral defense cooperation and agreed to strengthen it further in the areas of military exercises, training cooperation, personnel exchanges and equipment and technology cooperation.

Reaffirming that there is no military solution in Afghanistan, the two sides agreed that peace and stability in Afghanistan are vital to regional security and expressed satisfaction with the results of the third China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Dialogue held in Islamabad on September 7.

The Chinese side thanked Pakistan's efforts to promote the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. "Both sides argued that an inclusive, led and Afghan-owned peace process would be key to achieving peace and stability in the country," the press release said.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and China called on the international community to "objectively recognize Pakistan's contributions to regional peace and security through its success in [the] fight against terrorism. "

Prime Minister Imran thanked the leaders and people of China for their hospitality and invited the Chinese leaders to visit Pakistan at a convenient time for both sides.