Beijing: Pakistan and China on Tuesday announced a joint decision to speed up progress on all China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects including modernization of ML-I, development of Gwadar Port and Karakoram Highway.
Bilateral relations and cooperation were discussed during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Minister of the International Division of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) Liu Jianchao.
The Deputy Prime Minister is in China on a four-day visit, mainly to chair the Fifth Pakistan-China Foreign Minister Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
During the meeting, the two leaders reiterated the importance of strengthening the Air Strategic Partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and China.
They discussed the long-standing cooperation and exchanges between Pakistan’s political parties and the Chinese Communist Party.
Senator Dar emphasized Pakistan’s firm support to China on key issues, while Minister Liu said China supports Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and high-quality socio-economic development.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister offered their condolences and sympathies to those who died in the horrific Chinese attack. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm resolve to fight terrorism in all its shapes and forms and bring the perpetrators of the Shangla attack to justice.
He highlighted the measures taken by Pakistan to improve the security of Chinese projects, personnel and institutions in Pakistan.
Senator Dar invited Liu Jianchao to visit Pakistan to chair the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Mechanism of Political Parties this year.
