Chinese team calls on PM; security, defence ties discussed

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday received Vice Chairman Central Military Commission of China General Zhang Youxia and his delegation at PM’s Office Islamabad.

Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan and senior officers were present during the meeting. Welcoming the Vice Chairman Central Military Commission to Pakistan as his first foreign destination, the PM expressed the hope that his visit would further strengthen the existing strategic relations and multifaceted cooperation between Pakistan and China.

He also conveyed his greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and extended invitation to the Chinese leadership to visit Pakistan. He said that Pakistan welcomes President Xi’s remarks of terming Pakistan a pillar of regional peace and stability and observed that President Xi’s leadership and his vision is a source of inspiration. “President Xi’s Belt & Road Initiative of development and connectivity would change the destiny of the region”, he added.

He expressed satisfaction over the thriving Pak-China relations in all fields and expressed the hope that the multifaceted strategic cooperation including the security and defence ties of the time-tested friends would further strengthen for the shared objective of peace and development in the region.

He reiterated firm commitment of the government for early implementation of all CPEC related projects which he said would serve as a game changer for the region and would help realising the trade and economic potential existing between the two countries. Regional situation and Pakistan’s efforts for peace and stability in the region also came under discussion.

General Zhang Youxia appreciated the huge sacrifices that Pakistan has made in the war against terrorism and for the peace in the region. He observed that the immense sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its armed forces deserve to be fully recognised by the international community.

Expressing satisfaction over the existing level of defence cooperation and military relations of the two countries, General Zhang Youxia expressed the hope that various international fora including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation would help further cementing these ties and security cooperation between the two countries.