Pakistan’s ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily that the two nations are “committed to further enhancing high-level exchanges, instilling further substance in the already strong bilateral relations, and further cementing strong friendship in the face of a complex geopolitical and regional environment.”
Hashmi noted that President Xi Jinping was the first foreign leader to send congratulations to President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “within hours” after the election results were announced, a diplomatic gesture highlighting the strong ties between the two neighbors.
In his messages, Xi Jinping emphasized his readiness to work with the two leaders to continue the traditional bilateral friendship and promote pragmatic cooperation in various sectors.
Sharif wrote in a post on the X social media platform that he would like to express his sincere gratitude to the Chinese president for congratulating him on his re-election. “We look forward to working with him to further strengthen the Pakistan-China iron friendship and the high-quality development of CPEC as the flagship of the BRI,” he wrote,
As CPEC development moves into its second phase in 2024 and beyond, Hashmi said the two nations “remain committed to jointly building corridors of economic growth, livelihood, innovation, green development and inclusiveness, filled with high-quality development.”
The Economic Corridor has transformed Pakistan’s infrastructure and energy landscape, contributed to significant socio-economic progress and laid the foundation for accelerated economic growth, industrialization and more jobs, the envoy said.
As China’s strategic partner on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, Pakistan is also actively engaged with China in promoting and promoting President Xi Jinping’s vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Pakistan, one of the early members of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, has been an active partner of China in promoting this landmark initiative as it is well aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Hashmi said.
The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the BRI “are a global blueprint for a more prosperous, harmonious and peaceful world”, he said.
Mushahid Hussain Sayed, founding chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute and chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Committee on Defence, said that with the new government in the country,
He emphasized the importance of President Xi Jinping’s commitment to bilateral relations.
The Pakistani senator also emphasized the importance of greater cooperation with China through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
