BEIJING: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with China, amid his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Pakistan-China ties as an unparalleled and unique relationship and termed the friendship between the two countries grown from strength to strength over more than seven decades.
“Today marks the 75th year of our glorious partnership in terms of friendly diplomatic relations,” the prime minister said, congratulating the leadership and people of both countries on the milestone anniversary.
He said the credit for the enduring partnership went to the founding leaders of Pakistan and China who laid the foundations of the relationship, adding that both nations had planned year-long celebrations to commemorate the occasion.
The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan and China remained iron brothers, and emphasized that the bilateral relationship was next to none in international relations.
PM Shehbaz Sharif, amid praising President Xi Jinping’s leadership, said China had emerged as both a world-class economic and military power under his stewardship while promoting peace, multilateralism and global development.
Referring to his recent visit to Hangzhou, the prime minister said he witnessed firsthand China’s remarkable progress in infrastructure, technology and urban development. He also mentioned visiting Chinese technology giant Alibaba Group, saying China’s transformation reflected President Xi’s vision and dynamic leadership during his tenure in Zhejiang province.
The prime minister lauded President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and said the initiatives had promoted prosperity, regional connectivity and friendship among nations.
“True leadership is earned through selfless hard work, sacrifice and untiring efforts,” Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that President Xi’s governance model focused on people-centric development and shared prosperity.
He said Pakistan had also initiated major structural reforms and economic transformation, adding that his government, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, was committed to continuing the reform agenda.
Earlier, President Xi Jinping welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation, conveying warm regards to the people of Pakistan and appreciating Islamabad’s constructive role in promoting peace and stability.
President Xi said China and Pakistan had always trusted, supported and stood by each other since the establishment of diplomatic relations, describing the friendship as unbreakable.
“Our strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation have greatly contributed to the development of both countries,” President Xi said. He emphasized that China had consistently prioritized relations with Pakistan in its neighborhood diplomacy despite changing international circumstances.
The Chinese president also referred to a recent letter he received from Pakistani students studying in China, saying he was encouraged to see the younger generation committed to carrying forward the legacy of Pakistan-China friendship.
President Xi said China was ready to work closely with Pakistan to build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, deepen practical cooperation, deliver greater benefits to the people of both countries and contribute to regional peace and stability. –Agencies
