ISLAMABAD: Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang has said that he will cooperate to maintain Pakistan’s financial stability.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had a telephone conversation on Monday. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the talks between the two leaders took place in a traditional atmosphere of warmth and friendship, which is a hallmark of Pak-China relations.
The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences to the Chinese government and people over the terrorist attack on Karachi University in which three Chinese scholars lost their lives. The Prime Minister expressed sympathy with the families of the victims and strongly condemned the terrorist attack. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm commitment to conduct a thorough investigation to apprehend the perpetrators of this criminal act and bring them to justice in accordance with the laws of the land.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan attaches great importance to the safety and security of all Chinese nationals working in Pakistan on economic projects and institutions. He assured his Chinese counterpart that his government was committed to taking all necessary steps for the safety and security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.
The two Prime Ministers also discussed bilateral issues in detail and agreed that Pakistan and China would not allow their proven and ongoing strategic cooperation and partnership to be harmed in all circumstances.
Shahbaz Sharif thanked China for its full support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national development and reiterated the unwavering support of the Chinese government on all issues of fundamental interest. He reaffirmed the strong commitment of his government to expedite the ongoing and new projects under C-PAC which has contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Pakistan.
He emphasized the need to work together and enhance cooperation between the relevant agencies of the two countries to make the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) fully operational as soon as possible. Referring to the partnership between Pakistan and China, the Prime Minister wished to learn from the experience of Chinese officials who had played a significant role in setting up SEZs in their provinces.
The Prime Minister also expressed his determination to work with China with renewed vigor and enthusiasm for projects of strategic importance to both the countries, including the ML-1 project.
Emphasizing on the need for people-to-people contacts, Shahbaz Sharif also conveyed to the Chinese Prime Minister the sentiments of the families of Pakistani students who wanted to return to China to resume their education.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang assured that China is ready to enhance economic cooperation, expand trade and encourage more investment from China to Pakistan. The two leaders expressed the view that the China-Pakistan Partnership for All-Climate Strategic Cooperation should continue for the greater good of the peoples of the two countries as well as the wider interests of peace and stability in the context of a changing regional and global environment. To this end, it was agreed to enhance contacts to take bilateral cooperation to greater heights.
According to the news agency, the Chinese Prime Minister said that China values its preferential relations with Pakistan and as always will continue to strongly support Pakistan in defense of national sovereignty and security and its economic development, people’s Cooperates with Pakistan to improve living standards and maintain financial stability. China is ready to work with Pakistan to strengthen strategic ties, promote cooperation on major projects such as C-Pac and effectively control the epidemic.
He hoped that Pakistan would bring to justice those responsible for the terrorist attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi as soon as possible and ensure that such incidents do not happen in future.
