ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan met with President Xi Jinping on Sunday before concluding his four-day visit to China, said the foreign ministry of Pakistan in an official statement.
The prime minister reached Beijing on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics in a show of solidarity with the Chinese administration after the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia imposed a diplomatic boycott of the global event over China’s alleged human rights violations.
Diplomats from these nations chose not to attend the global event, though their athletes were sent to Beijing to participate in the games.
“This was the first meeting of the two leaders since the Prime Minister’s visit to China in October 2019,” informed the foreign ministry while adding that they reviewed the entire gamut of Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest in a warm and cordial atmosphere.
The Pakistani prime minister briefed President Xi on people-centered geo-economic vision of his administration to ensure sustainable growth, industrial development, agricultural modernization and regional connectivity.
“He [the prime minister] lauded China’s continued support and assistance to Pakistan’s socioeconomic development which has greatly benefitted from the high-quality development of CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor],” the statement said.
Khan also welcomed the increased Chinese investment in the second phase of the corridor project which, according to Pakistani officials, centers on industrialization to improve the livelihood of people.
The Pakistani prime minister also highlighted during his meeting with the Chinese president that the strategic partnership between the two countries was “an anchor for peace and stability in the region” while thanking China for its unwavering support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national development.
“Both leaders acknowledged that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan would promote economic development and connectivity in the region and called on the international community to promptly assist the Afghan people in averting a humanitarian catastrophe,” the statement said.
They also appreciated the signing of a number of agreements covering industrial, space and vaccine cooperation between the two sides.
Later, the two countries reiterated the importance of people-to-people contacts, tourism cooperation and cultural exchanges for strong bilateral relations in a joint declaration.
“Both sides agreed to continue the momentum in defense cooperation at various levels between the armed forces of Pakistan and China,” it said.
The declaration added that China recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts in the fight against terrorism.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the document continued.
Apart from holding the meeting with President Xi, the prime minister also interacted on Saturday with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss regional issues on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics.
He also held meetings with the Chinese business community and investors on Friday in which he focused on the K-4 water and Hub canal projects in Karachi and a water treatment plant project in Faisalabad.
