ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have agreed to conduct joint police and paramilitary exercises in the border region, an official statement said on Saturday, while also pledging to boost bilateral cooperation in various security fields.

Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan and China’s Xinjiang share a 600-kilometer-long border that holds strategic significance for both countries, especially in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

These areas serve as critical trade routes, fostering deeper economic ties between the two nations. However, China remains concerned about the security situation in Xinjiang, where it has been dealing with militancy, and the flow of narcotics in the region.

These issues came up for discussion during a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chinese Minister for Political and Legal Affairs Chen Mingguo in Islamabad.

“During the meeting, it was agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields, including counter-terrorism, cross-border cooperation, anti-smuggling, and anti-narcotics efforts,” said a statement circulated by the interior ministry said.

“It was also agreed to conduct joint police and paramilitary forces exercises in Gilgit-Baltistan or Xinjiang and train Gilgit-Baltistan police officers at the Xinjiang Police Academy,” it added.

Naqvi emphasized Pakistan wanted to completely eliminate smuggling of drugs, arms and all other goods to China.

The Chinese minister also expressed the desire to enhance relations with Pakistan in all fields, according to the interior ministry’s statement.

He also invited Naqvi to visit Xinjiang.