ISLAMABAD: Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang said on Thursday his country would continue to support Pakistan’s national development and territorial sovereignty while speaking to his Pakistani counterpart over the phone.
The phone call was initiated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who extended “warm congratulations” to the Chinese premier for his recent election to this high office.
China is among Pakistan’s closest allies. The two countries are jointly working on a multibillion-dollar economic project which requires them to construct roads, power plants and other infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity and generate adequate business activity for greater financial prosperity.
“The Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] reiterated Pakistan’s unstinting support to China on its core issues, including the ‘One China’ policy, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea,” said an official statement released in Islamabad. “He expressed Pakistan’s sincere gratitude for China’s principled position on the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, and support for Pakistan on core issues.”
“The Chinese Premier appreciated Pakistan’s support for China and reaffirmed China’s continuing support to Pakistan’s national development, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement added.
Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir is currently on a four-day trip to China where the defense ministry recently expressed keen interest to further strengthen military ties between the two states.
China has also come to Islamabad’s financial rescue in recent years by rolling over billions of dollars of funds which it decided to keep in the State Bank amid Pakistan’s declining official forex reserves.
