Beijing: Pakistan and China have agreed to maintain close coordination, accelerate the implementation of agreed projects, and advance their partnership into a new phase of practical, results-oriented, and high-quality cooperation. This agreement was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing.
According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting took place against the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-China relations, expressing satisfaction with the steady growth of bilateral cooperation in various domains, including political, economic, strategic, security, and people-to-people engagements.
Both leaders reiterated their support for each other's core interests and acknowledged the transformative role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's socio-economic development. They anticipated further progress in the next phase of CPEC implementation.
Prime Minister Sharif underscored the significance of utilizing the 75th anniversary to convert historical goodwill into practical, people-centered, and future-oriented outcomes. He emphasized building synergies between China's 15th Five-Year Plan and Pakistan's Uraan Pakistan development framework to accelerate Pakistan's development priorities and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.
Furthermore, Sharif reassured his commitment to ensuring the security of Chinese nationals, institutions, and projects in Pakistan. He also stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation in emerging sectors such as space, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Premier Li Qiang for the warm reception and reaffirmed that the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership remains a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. He highlighted the iron-clad friendship between the nations, rooted in mutual trust, strategic confidence, and a shared commitment to peace, development, and prosperity.