ISLAMABAD - Taking serious exception to opponents of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday they would never succeed as this is an initiative for peace and development not only for China but for the region and beyond.
“Those who oppose Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or CPEC shall never succeed”, Chinese President said while talking to Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Beijing today.
President Xi said that China will continue to support Pakistan as a strategic partner. “Pakistan is China’s time-tested iron friend and Pakistan Army has a pivotal role in this lasting relationship,” Xi said.
He appreciated professionalism of Pakistan armed forces and acknowledged their role in regional peace and stability, said a statement issued here by the ISPR, adding both sides discussed regional security environment, challenges and way forward.
It said that army chief thanked President Xi for his invitation. He also thanked the Chinese leader for acknowledging professionalism and contributions of Pakistan Army towards regional peace and stability.
He said Pakistan understands the importance of peace and has given a lot of sacrifices for achieving it. “The BRI with CPEC as its flagship is destined to succeed despite all odds and Pakistan Army shall ensure security of CPEC at all costs,” he said.
The army chief said that “while we work for peace we need to stay strong to thwart designs of all inimical forces challenging our resolve and we greatly value Chinese support in this regard”.
According to Xinhua, President Xi called on the two countries to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.
Noting the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and that the two countries are “iron friends”, Xi said the two sides have been keeping “highly aligned” with each other on major international and regional issues.
China always places a high premium on China-Pakistan relations, Xi said, adding the two sides had maintained a high level of mutual trust on issues of each other’s major concerns.
“As long as high-degree mutual trust and concrete measures are in place, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction will succeed and deliver benefits to people of the two countries,” Xi said.
“At present, the international and regional situation is undergoing complex changes, and the two countries are supporting each other, helping each other and enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation, which have yielded fruitful outcomes,” Xi said, adding that such efforts comply with the trend of the times.
He also hailed the practical achievements reached during the deepening of cooperation between the two countries’ militaries.
The two countries’ militaries should further deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at all levels, take resolute measures against terrorist forces, make efforts to ensure the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction and serve as a reliable safeguard for the common interests and common development of the two countries.
Bajwa said the Pakistani side resolutely supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and Pakistan always places relations with China at a primary strategic position in developing foreign relations and always sides with China on issues involving each other’s core interests.
He expressed Pakistan’s sincere thanks to the help China has provided to the country in various fields. He said the Pakistani side is willing to strengthen strategic communication, practical exchanges and counter-terrorism cooperation with Chinese military to maintain the common interests and strategic security of the two countries and contribute to international and regional peace and stability.
Army to ensure CPEC security at all costs: Bajwa