By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) - The Chinese leadership on Friday hosted Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the two sides vowed to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project from "detractors and adversaries."
Sharif started his official visit from Shenzhen to engage with provincial authorities, the business community, and industry giants including Huawei before proceeding to Beijing for official talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and others.
This is his maiden visit to Islamabad’s longtime ally after starting his second term as prime minister in March this year.
Sharif held delegation-level talks with counterpart Li at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and also met President Xi.
The two sides signed 23 memorandums of understanding and agreements deepening cooperation in transport infrastructure, industry, energy, agriculture, media, health, water, socio-economic development, and others of mutual interest.
Li and Sharif discussed the "entire spectrum" of bilateral relations besides deliberating on regional and global developments of mutual interest, according to a statement by the Pakistani prime minister’s office.
- Committed to protect CPEC
Li and Sharif reaffirmed “unwavering support on core issues and expressed continued commitment and support” for the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative, with more than $65 billion pledged for road, rail and other infrastructure developments in the South Asian nation.
Emphasizing on timely completion of all ongoing projects, the two sides said the coastal city of Gwadar was “an important pillar of CPEC.”
They agreed to “expedite the timely completion of all related infrastructure projects to transform Gwadar into a regional economic hub.”
While Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's “unflinching resolve to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan,” the two sides expressed “firm commitment to protect CPEC from its detractors and adversaries and to upgrade CPEC in the form of enhanced cooperation.”
Li also congratulated Pakistan on becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.