China is cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy: President Asif Ali Zardari
Islamabad, Hilal Ahmad, August 22, AZERTAC
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan and China are iron brothers, time tested friends and all-weather strategic partners and friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, which enjoys unanimous public, political, and institutional support in Pakistan.
The President made these remarks in a meeting with Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, at Aiwan-e-Sadr (President House) Islamabad. The President thanked China for its consistent support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national development, and its principled and just stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The President said that 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China and Pakistan is planning to celebrate this important milestone in a befitting manner. He said both the countries can use this opportunity to pass on the finest traditions of Pakistan-China friendship to our younger generations. The President regarded CPEC, which is part of President Xi’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative, as having immense strategic significance for both Pakistan and China.
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also held a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister. Welcoming Wang Yi, the Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation for China’s steadfast support in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national development. He lauded President Xi Jinping’s “visionary leadership” and recalled his productive meeting with the Chinese President during his visit to Beijing last year.
Highlighting the importance of economic cooperation, Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed Pakistan’s desire to expand collaboration with China in trade, investment, ICT, agriculture, industrialization, mines, and minerals. He particularly underscored the significance of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and regional connectivity, expressing satisfaction with the steady progress of CPEC Phase-II.
Expressing his views, Mr. Wang Yi said that friendship between China and Pakistan has lasted for generations and is based on good faith, credibility and strong all-weather strategic partnership. He said President Xi Jinping’s vision is that Pakistan and China have a shared future and work should be done to bring the two peoples closer to each other. He said China acknowledges Pakistan’s support to China at key junctures.
Earlier, Pakistan and China reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the high-quality development of the upgraded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The resolve came during the 6th strategic dialogues held between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Chinese Foreign Minister held the 6th round of Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad. The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of Pakistan-China relations and discussed important regional and global issues. They also exchanged in-depth views on multiple facets of bilateral cooperation including CPEC, trade and economic relations, multilateral cooperation and people-to-people ties.
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