ISLAMABAD:
The Chinese foreign minister has praised the ‘ironclad’ friendship between China and Pakistan and reiterated his country’s firm support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, combating terrorism, and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions.
“China will continue to support Pakistan in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs,” said Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Wednesday.
Wang added that both countries should work toward an “upgraded version” of CPEC, expanding cooperation into areas such as industry, agriculture, energy, mineral resources, human resource development, counter-terrorism, and security.
The statement was released after high-level talks between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who is also the country’s foreign minister, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday.
According to the statement, China and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. The discussions emphasised bilateral cooperation in security, economic development, and regional stability, while also highlighting shared goals under the CPEC and the vision of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
Deputy PM Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the one-China principle and expressed admiration for China’s achievements in innovation and technology. He conveyed Pakistan’s desire to expand comprehensive cooperation with China and called for continued Chinese support to help Pakistan address economic and security challenges.
He also assured his counterpart that Pakistan remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions operating within its borders.
Earlier, Pakistan, China and Afghanistan agreed to extend the CPEC into Afghan territory, marking a significant step in trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The agreement came during an informal trilateral meeting held in Beijing between Deputy PM Dar, Chinese FM, and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The three sides termed their cooperation vital for regional stability and agreed that economic integration was key to shared progress. They also stressed the importance of combating terrorism and working collectively toward peace and sustainable development.
