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- The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral strategic cooperation in key sectors
- President Zardari offered condolences over the killing of Chinese nationals in a suicide attack in Karachi
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday Pakistan and China could further strengthen bilateral relations while hosting a luncheon in honor of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in attendance.
China and Pakistan have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, marked by strategic cooperation in trade, defense and infrastructure development. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a centerpiece of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to transform the region’s economic geography by enhancing physical connectivity and positioning Pakistan as a key player in Central Asian trade through its sea routes.
As both nations embark on CPEC 2.0, the focus has shifted toward industrialization, socio-economic development and energy projects, reflecting their mutual quest to further expand bilateral cooperation and boost regional integration.
“During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral strategic cooperation in key sectors such as economy, investment and regional connectivity,” the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said.
“The President said that friendship with China is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and stressed the importance of exploring new avenues for collaboration,” it added. “He noted that there is still room to further expand Pakistan-China relations.”
The Chinese premier, along with ministers and government officials, arrived in Pakistan on Monday.
His visit comes at a time when Pakistan is hosting the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
The Pakistani president expressed his heartfelt condolences over the killing of two Chinese nationals in a deadly suicide attack in Karachi in the lead-up to the summit, calling it a painful incident for the entire nation.
He maintained that enemies of Pakistan-China friendship were targeting Chinese citizens to damage bilateral relations and disrupt CPEC projects, adding they would not succeed in their plans.
He also assured the Chinese premier Pakistan was committed to ensuring that the perpetrators of the crime were brought to justice.