ISLAMABAD/BEIJING   -  Pakistan and China Sunday reaffirmed their strong support for each other’s core interests and major concerns and commitment to deepening strategic communication including at the highest political level and practical cooperation.

They also agreed to building an even stronger China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, says a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s two-day official visit to China.

Foreign minister Bilawal visited Guangzhou on May 21-22 at the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It was his first official bilateral visit after assuming the office of foreign minister of Pakistan. The visit coincided with the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan.

During the visit, the state councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi and foreign minister Bilawal held in-depth discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of shared interest. The talks were conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere, in line with the finest tradition of mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.

The joint statement said the two sides agreed that amidst profound regional and international changes, the importance of China-Pakistan strategic relations has assumed even greater significance.

“As All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, China and Pakistan share ironclad mutual trust and friendship, which is a source of peace, stability, and prosperity for the region and beyond,” it was added.

 The two sides noted with satisfaction the steady growth of economic cooperation between China and Pakistan. In this context, they agreed that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has effectively improved Pakistan’s infrastructure and boosted its socio-economic development.

“Both sides expressed firm resolve to synergizing development strategies, pushing forward all CPEC projects in a safe, smooth, and high-quality manner, promoting cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, investment, industry, agriculture, health, and science and technology, contributing to the peoples’ well-being and delivering greater benefits to local communities,” the statement said.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum of bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges. They underlined that China-Pakistan defense cooperation was in fact a factor of peace and stability in the region. The two sides termed terrorism as the common enemy of humanity.

The two sides called on the regional countries and the international community to form synergy and fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The two sides expressed their determination not to allow anyone to damage China-Pakistan iron brotherhood.

They once again strongly condemned the Karachi University Confucius Institute terrorist attack.

Pakistan reiterated that efforts would be made to speed up investigation, hunt down the culprits, and bring them to justice.

Pakistan briefed the Chinese side on its efforts to ensure the safety of all Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in the country. China appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to the safety and security of Chinese nationals.

Pakistan and China would further enhance counter-terrorism and security cooperation.

In the face of multiple traditional and non-traditional global challenges, the two sides agreed on the need for international cooperation and solidarity.

They noted that, based on the principles of win-win cooperation and shared benefits, Belt and Road cooperation has become an open and inclusive platform for international cooperation and is widely welcomed as a global public good.0

Pushing Pak-China relations to new heights

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Guangzhou to push Pakistan-China relations to a new height and build a closer community of Pakistan-China shared future in the new era.

Bilawal Bhutto jointly met the press after holding talks with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Guangzhou. The foreign ministers of the two countries held fruitful talks, which further consolidated the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan, further enhanced the political mutual trust between the two countries, and further strengthened the cooperation confidence between the two sides.

 Wang Yi introduced the five important consensus reached by the two sides: First, they agreed that the friendship between China and Pakistan is everlasting, the relationship between the two countries is rock solid, and the solidarity and cooperation between the two sides has become an important factor of stability in the turbulent and changing world.

We will firmly support each other’s core interests and major concerns, and continuously deepen strategic communication and practical cooperation. While working together to achieve their own development and revitalization, we will accelerate the building of a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

Second, they agreed that any terrorist attack against Chinese citizens in Pakistan is unacceptable, any despicable attempt to undermine China-Pakistan friendship will not succeed, and incidents such as the terrorist attack on the Confucius Institute in Karachi must never be repeated.

Pak-China FMs cut cake to celebrate 71st anniversary of diplomatic relations

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday cut a cake to celebrate the 71 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto is on a two-day visit to China at the invitation of Wang Yi and is in Guangzhou, southern Chinese city and also the largest city and capital of China Guangdong province.

In a tweet, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian congratulated Pakistan and China on the 71st anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

In his message, Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque said, on 71st anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic ties, we reaffirm to further fortify our iron-clad friendship, strengthen strategic communication, deepen eco engagement and promote people to people exchanges, thus taking the relations to a high pedestal.

 Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also on a  two-day visit to China starting from May 21also coincided with the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. On May 21, 1951, Pakistan and China established diplomatic ties.

Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize new China and the first Islamic country to enter into diplomatic relations with China.