UPDATE – China, Pakistan vow mutual support on ‘core interests’

ADDS STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT XI, COMMENTS BY SHARUF; CHANGES HEADER, DECK, LEDE, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – In a fresh boost to their bilateral relations, China and Pakistan on Friday vowed support to each other’s issues of “core interests”.

While Beijing pledged “firm support” to the South Asian nation, Islamabad assured “unflinching resolve” to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan.

These commitments were made during extensive meetings between the Chinese leadership in Beijing during meetings with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

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 Xi and counterpart Li at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital

Li and Sharif 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.

Among others, Sharif is accompanied by Pakistan army chief Gen. Munir Asim.

- ‘Support on each other’s issues of core interest’

Xi told Sharif that China was “ready to work with Pakistan to firmly support each other, strengthen cooperation, deepen strategic coordination, accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.”

Besides, he added, Beijing would work with Islamabad make “greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.”

Sharif briefed Xi on Pakistan’s policies for economic reform as well as the “critical role” played by CPEC in Pakistan’s development.

The Pakistani prime minister told Xi that his government’s “agenda for people centric, socio-economic development resonates with the concept of 'shared prosperity' embraced by China.”

Xi and Sharif exchanged views on regional and global developments including Afghanistan, Palestine and South Asia including the “serious human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” said a statement from Pakistani prime minister’s office.

“The two sides reiterated their longstanding support on each other’s issues of core interest,” it added.

- Committed to protect CPEC

Launched in 2014, the $64 billion CPEC -- a network of roads, railways, and pipelines -- is aiming to connect China's strategically important northwestern Xinxiang province to the port of Gwadar in the southwestern Balochistan province.

The project is part of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Through BRI, Sharif said, Xi had “earned one of the most positions” amongst the comity of nations and leaders of different parts of the world.

The two leaders “affirmed consensus on upgradation of CPEC and advancing high quality development of CPEC in the second phase.”

In March, Islamabad and Beijing had decided to form establish a working group on five new economic corridors under the CPEC which includes the Corridor of Job Creation, Corridor of Innovation, Corridor of Green Energy, and Inclusive Regional Development.

During his meeting with Chinese premier, Sharif and Li emphasized on timely completion of all ongoing projects and 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.”

Li also congratulated Pakistan on becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.