Friendship with China resided in the hearts of the people of Pakistan: PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD, April 12 (SABAH): The Charge d’ Affaires of People’s Republic of China, Ms. Pang Chunxue, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday.
She conveyed warm felicitations and good wishes of the Chinese government and leadership on the assumption of office by the Prime Minister. The Charge d’ Affaires emphasized that the Prime Minister was viewed as a strong and committed friend of China and enjoyed great respect and admiration in her country. She also lauded Prime Minister’s contribution to promoting China-Pakistan Economic Cooperation during the years that he was Chief Minister of the Punjab province.
While conveying his warm greetings and gratitude to the Chinese leadership, the Prime Minister recalled his many visits to China, during the course of which, he had the pleasure and honour of meeting with President Xi Jinping who had taken a personal interest in promoting relations with Pakistan.
The Prime Minister appreciated CPEC’s continued progress as the flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative and its importance for economic development and prosperity of Pakistan. He affirmed his Government’s resolve to speed up high quality development of CPEC projects and make it a symbol of China-Pakistan friendship and close partnership. He underlined the importance of enhanced investment from China in industrialization, agriculture, and digital technologies.
Recalling his close cooperation with China as Chief Minister of Punjab, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s policy and factor for regional peace and stability. He underscored that friendship with China resided in the hearts of the people of Pakistan and China was Pakistan’s strongest friend and closest partner. The Prime Minister affirmed his government’s commitment to further deepening the win-win economic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Meanwhile China has congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the new prime minister of Pakistan saying that it is looking forward to working with him to continue traditional friendship.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian said that China looks forward to working together with the Pakistani side carrying on our traditional friendship, resolutely supporting each other, deepening cooperation in various areas, and building a high quality CPEC to build an even closer China-Pak community of shared future in the new era.
He said that China and Pakistan are all weather strategic and comprehensive cooperation partners with rock solid and unbreakable relations.
Meanwhile a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Government of Pakistan says that we have noted the comments made by the White House on assumption of office by Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. We welcome U.S. reaffirmation of long-standing ties with Pakistan.
The spokesperson said that the new government wishes to constructively and positively engage with the U.S. to promote shared goals of peace, security and development in the region. We look forward to deepening this important relationship on the principles of equality, mutual interest and mutual benefit.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with the heads of allied parties at their residences in Islamabad on Tuesday and discussed matters pertaining to the formation of cabinet.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister expressed the resolve to move forward with the spirit of consultation, unity, cooperation and mutual trust. He said we will collectively address the problems and the promises will be fulfilled.
The Prime Minister met with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at Zardari House. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique and Maryam Aurangzeb were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile Shehbaz Sharif also met with Chief of JUI-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of MQM-Pakistan, Sardar Muhammad Akhtar Jan Mengal, Balochistan Awami Party Parliamentary leader in National Assembly Mir Khalid Hussain Magsi, Mohsin Dawar, Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti and Sardar Aslam Khan Bootani.