-Says it’s time-tested friendship with China had flourished from strength to strength
-States both Pakistan, China remain firm in resolve to further strengthen All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday said it’s time-tested friendship with China had flourished from strength to strength and remained unaffected amid regional and global environment.
“Indeed time-tested Pakistan-China friendship has flourished from strength to strength, unaffected by vicissitudes of time and changes in regional and global environment,” the Foreign Offices said in a tweet after the conclusion of the visit of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to China.
FM Qureshi returned to Islamabad early Sunday from his two-day official visit where he held meetings with the Chinese State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and reaffirmed resolve to further strengthen their ties.
“Both Pakistan and China remain firm in resolve to further strengthen this All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” the Foreign Office said.
The Spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also tweeted on the meeting between the two leaders.“It proved again that China and Pakistan are the most trustworthy good neighbors, good friends and good brothers to each other,” the tweet said.
The Chinese MFA also termed the friendship between China and Pakistan as “unbreakable”.
“The friendship between China and Pakistan is unbreakable,” the tweet mentioned.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday expressed confidence that his visit to China would further strengthen bilateral fraternal relations between the two countries. In a video statement before leaving for China on a two-day visit, the foreign minister said bilateral strategic agenda would be discussed in his meeting with the Chinese counterpart. Foreign Minister Qureshi at the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left here for China, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and senior officials. The foreign minister said the two sides would exchange views on the situation in Afghanistan and the region.
Qureshi mentioned that a detailed meeting on the progress made so far on the projects related to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its future strategy would be held. He said the Pak-China friendship, which had entered the seventh decade, was emerging as a strong strategic partnership. The Foreign Office termed the visit a part of the high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China.
During the visit, both sides will inter alia discuss further deepening of bilateral relations, focus on cooperation in the high-quality development under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), defence and security cooperation, Covid-19 vaccines, counter-terrorism and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
“The visit will play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and will expand strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues,” the FO said. This year, Pakistan and China are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
More than 100 celebratory events have been planned of which over 60 events have already been held so far. These celebrations have immensely contributed to injecting a fresh vigour and warmth in the traditional friendship. Pakistan and China are the closest friends and staunch partners. The time-tested Pakistan-China relationship is based on unparalleled mutual trust, understanding and commonality of interests. Both sides are fully committed to building closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future.
