ISLAMABAD: President Xi Jinping on Sunday met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and reiterated China’s unwavering support to Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and appreciated Islamabad’s agenda for socio-economic development and people-centered progress.
PM Imran Khan also met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Sunday.
A statement released by the Pakistani PM office said Xi and Khan exchanged views on the entire gamut of bilateral relations in a warm and cordial atmosphere and affirmed the resolve to further strengthen strategic cooperation through political, security, economic and trade, and people-to-people exchanges.
Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to China on all issues of core interest and congratulated President Xi on the successful 2nd Belt and Road Forum (BRF), highlighting its significance as an important international platform for connectivity and sharing of experience among BRI partners.
“Reaffirming Pakistan’s unflinching commitment to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Prime Minister highlighted CPEC’s next phase and its extension into new areas of agriculture, industrial development, and socio-economic uplift with livelihood projects,” the statement read.
President Xi affirmed that China-Pakistan ties would continue to acquire greater strength and deepen practical cooperation in the times to come. The two sides also exchanged views on the regional situation, including in Afghanistan and the larger South Asia.
“President Xi further expressed China’s appreciation for Pakistan’s sustained and successful efforts in the fight against terrorism and to create a peaceful neighborhood,” the statement added.
Pakistan’s state radio reported that Khan and Chinese Premier Li signed the Main Line-1 railways agreement on Sunday, under which a double railway track will be laid from the northwestern city of Peshawar to the financial hub of Karachi in the southern Sindh province.
After his meetings with the Chinese leaders, Khan attended the Pak-China Trade Investment Forum.
