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- June 7, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
BEIJING: China President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif convened on Friday to discuss a constructive discussion during which they reaffirmed their shared commitment to the timely completion of important existing projects and the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Furthermore, the two leaders reaffirmed their agreement to upgrade the CPEC and move the massive project forward in its second phase of development. Pakistan’s goals for economic reform and sustainable growth, industrial development, agricultural modernization, and regional connectivity were presented to President Xi by the prime minister, who highlighted the vital role of CPEC in Pakistan’s development. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the high-quality development of the CPEC and to closely coordinate the two nations’ development objectives to create synergy.
This historic Great Hall of the People served as the venue for the meeting between the two leaders. Together with the two leaders were senior officials and Federal Ministers. PM Shehbaz and the Chinese President met for the first time since the latter took office in 2024. The gathering exuded a classic warmth that befitted the two nations’ unwavering friendship and close geopolitical connections. For the kind greeting that President Xi Jinping and his delegation received in China, the prime minister expressed his gratitude to him. He brought up the historic visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in 2015 when a new chapter in the bilateral relationship was officially opened with the formal operationalization of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The two leaders confirmed their long-standing “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” and expressed their desire to enhance cooperation in various areas, including politics, security, commerce, economics, and people-to-people interactions. They also discussed regional and international events, such as those in Afghanistan, Palestine, and South Asia, as well as the serious human rights situation in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The parties reiterated their unwavering support for each other’s fundamental concerns. The prime minister commended President Xi for his innovative Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), emphasizing the significant contribution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of the BRI, to Pakistan’s socioeconomic development.
He emphasized Pakistan’s dedication and unwavering support for the safety and security of Chinese citizens, initiatives, and establishments within Pakistan. He emphasized that China’s concept of “shared prosperity” is consistent with the government’s plan for socioeconomic growth centered on the people’s needs. Additionally, at a dinner that President Xi Jinping hosted in honor of the prime minister, more talks on several topics of shared interest took place.