PM Imran assures China of CPEC projects’ speedy execution – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that Pakistan committed to timely completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and hoped that more Chinese companies would make investments in the country.

During his meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the prime minister stressed the importance of the proposed CPEC authority for the rapid execution of projects.

Khan also informed the Chinese FM about the situation in Kashmir occupied by India (IoK) and both agreed to more high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China to further promote bilateral relations and shared goals.

During his official two-day visit, the Chinese FM also held meetings with President Dr. Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and army chief General Qamar Bajwa. Bilateral, regional and international issues were discussed during the meetings and both parties agreed to jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The prime minister hoped that as CPEC's benefits expanded, more Chinese companies would invest in Pakistan and help support Pakistan's industrialization process and its policies of greater productivity and agricultural innovation.

He stressed that CPEC was a project of great national importance that contributed greatly to the revitalization of Pakistan's economy.

The visiting Foreign Minister reaffirms his support for the Kashmir problem

Khan stressed that friendship with China was the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. He informed the Chinese side about the evolution of the situation in IoK after the unilateral and illegal action of India on August 5 to strip the region of autonomy.

He stressed that the curfew in progress for 35 days and the continuous blockade and blockade of communications, together with massive human rights violations, had created a serious humanitarian situation in IoK that should be addressed urgently.

Prime Minister Khan said the curfew and other restrictions should be lifted immediately.

To deepen strategic cooperation, Pakistan and China must continue their close coordination and consultation to ensure that peace and stability are maintained in the region, he said.

Wang Yi said the relationship between Pakistan and China is based on mutual respect, trust and strong ties of friendship. He appreciated Pakistan's efforts to achieve national development goals under the leadership of Prime Minister Khan, and extended China's greatest support in this regard.

He noted that with government policies, Pakistan's economic and financial situation was improving.

Wang Yi stressed that CPEC, which was being jointly implemented by Pakistan and China, was a high-quality Band and Road Initiative (BRI) project demonstration project.

The Chinese Foreign Minister conveyed the best wishes of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang to Mr. Khan and said the China-Pakistan relationship was strong and unbreakable.

Wang Yi reaffirmed China's support and reiterated opposition to any unilateral Indian action (in relation to the detention of Kashmir), as well as the Delhi measures that could further complicate the situation.

Both leaders agreed that high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China should continue to further promote bilateral ties and shared goals of economic development, peace and security throughout the region.

Joint declaration

Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the official two-day visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister.

According to the statement, Wang Yi also called President Dr. Arif Alvi and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and met with the head of the Army General Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

During the meetings, both parties maintained a profound exchange of views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Both sides reiterated that the proven strategic cooperative partnership for all climates between China and Pakistan was not affected by any adverse regional and international development and continued to make progress.

Both sides reaffirmed that the China-Pakistan relationship was a priority in their foreign policies and pledged to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Both parties agreed to hold frequent visits and mutual meetings at the leadership level and continue to hold bilateral meetings between their leaders on multilateral occasions.

They noted that China and Pakistan had enjoyed mutual understanding and support in matters related to each other's central interests. They reiterated the resolution to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries to improve strategic mutual trust and improve comprehensive cooperation to jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The Chinese side reaffirmed its support for Pakistan to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national dignity, choose its development path in light of its national conditions, work for a better external security environment and play a more constructive role in matters Regional and international.

Both parties believed that CPEC, as a pioneering project of the BRI, had entered a new phase of high quality development. They agreed to continue to strongly promote the construction of CPEC, complete their ongoing projects in a timely manner and realize their full potential by focusing on socio-economic development, job creation and better livelihoods and accelerating cooperation in industrial parks and agriculture.

Both parties expressed their satisfaction at the close cooperation between the two countries in multilateral forums and resolved to deepen strategic coordination and consultation. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and support for multilateralism, free trade and mutually beneficial cooperation. Both parties agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs.

Both parties stressed that a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous South Asia was in the common interest of all parties and agreed that the parties should resolve disputes and problems in the region through dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality.

Both sides also exchanged views on the situation in Kashmir, controlled by India.

The Pakistani side informed the Chinese side about the situation, including its concerns, position and urgent humanitarian issues.

The Chinese side responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated that the Kashmir problem was a dispute that remained in history and that it should be resolved adequately and peacefully in accordance with the UN Charter, the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and bilateral agreements. China opposes any unilateral action that complicates the situation.

Both parties agreed to strengthen cooperation on the Afghan issue and support the peace and reconciliation process led by Afghans. Both sides welcomed the positive progress made in the negotiations between the Afghan Taliban and the United States, and called on all Afghan political stakeholders, including the Taliban, to initiate intra-Afghan negotiations to form a future political structure acceptable to all parties so that peace and stability could be achieved in Afghanistan at an early date.

Posted in Dawn, September 9, 2019