PARIS: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met his Chinese vounterpart Li Qiang in France wherein the two dignitaries agreed to celebrate the Decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) this year to highlight its success. The meeting was held here on the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact.
It was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Premier Li assumed office in March 2023.
Expressing satisfaction over the development of CPEC projects in Pakistan, both leaders agreed on CPEC’s centrality for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and showcased their firm commitment to continue working together for realizing its shared objectives for the two nations.
Both the leaders discussed several mutual issues in a friendly environment with the traditional warmth which is the hallmark of the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two sides.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed China’s non-stop support to Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and socio-economic development.
He noted that China’s firm opposition to holding any G20 meeting in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir was an intimate reflection of China’s principled stance for upholding international law and the UN resolutions.
CPEC to Further Boost Mutual Ties
Meanwhile, Premier Li said the Pakistan-China friendship was unique and had withstood the vicissitude of time due to deep fraternal relations between the peoples of the two friendly countries.
He further said that as a close neighbour and iron-brother, Pakistan occupied a special position in China’s neighborhood diplomacy and that China would continue its efforts for safeguarding the core interests of Pakistan and would play its role in the economic development and prosperity of the country and its people.
Shehbaz Sharif also invited Premier Li to undertake a visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience which the latter accepted.
