ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will continue to work with China in countering terrorism and extremism, while expanding cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, livestock, industry, mining and new technologies, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday.
The statement came after his meeting with Chen Xiaojiang, the Communist Party secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in Urumqi, at which the president reaffirmed Pakistan-China friendship as the cornerstone of Islamabad’s foreign policy.
Pakistan views China as an important strategic ally and investment partner, which has funneled billions of dollars into the country under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy and infrastructure project for over a decade.
Despite massive investments, Chinese projects and nationals have been hit by militant attacks in recent years, with Beijing pressing Islamabad to step up security of Chinese nationals and initiatives in the South Asian country.
“Pakistan will continue to cooperate with China to eliminate terrorism and extremism,” President Zardari was quoted as saying by his office. “Pakistan and China will increase cooperation in the fields of agriculture, industry, minerals and new technology.”
Beijing is Pakistan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade topping $25 billion in recent years, while Chinese firms have also invested heavily in Pakistan’s power, transport, infrastructure, telecommunication and other projects.
Highlighting Xinjiang’s pivotal role in CPEC, the President encouraged greater industrial and agricultural collaboration, noting the potential of Special Economic Zones in Gilgit-Baltistan. He invited people from Xinjiang to visit Pakistan’s northern regions, hoping that these visits would further strengthen cultural and economic bonds, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
In his remarks, Chen underlined that Xinjiang has become a hub of prosperity and is advancing in agriculture and livestock, adding that he looked forward to deepening government-to-government and business-to-business cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in agriculture, livestock, mining and industry.
“He reaffirmed the desire to work closely on security and counter-terrorism as well,” the broadcaster said.
The development comes during President Zardari’s ten-day visit to China that began on Sept. 12. The president has since had a number of engagements with Chinese political and business figures, aimed at further strengthening ties between the two countries.
Beijing and Islamabad this week signed multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening cooperation in agriculture, environmental protection and mass transit, Zardari’s office said.
“These MoUs reflect a practical step toward strengthened cooperation between Pakistan and China in agriculture, technology, and environmental management,” Zardari said at the signing ceremony.
