‘China ready to work with Pakistan to upgrade CPEC’

BEIJING: China on Wednesday said it was ready to work with Pakistan to upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

“China stands ready to work with Pakistan to deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, deepen political mutual trust and expand practical cooperation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during his regular briefing on a question by APP correspondent.

About the recent visit of Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to Pakistan, he said that Sun Weidong visited Pakistan from January 20 to 22. He paid courtesy calls on President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani to have in-depth exchanges of views on the bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, the spokesperson added.

Wang Wenbin said the Chinese vice foreign minister co-chaired the Fourth Meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group on International Cooperation and Coordination with Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi.

“China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners,” he said. “China appreciates Pakistan’s firm commitment to the one-China principle, supports Pakistan in defending its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and supports its unity, stability, development and prosperity.”

During the visit, the Chinese vice foreign minister and Pakistani leaders renewed commitment for the success of CPEC and expressed the desire for enhanced cooperation in the areas of information technology, economy, agriculture and human resource development.