chinese president visit pakistan

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Full text: Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

1. H.E. Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, undertook an official visit to the People's Republic of China from 1-2 November 2022. This was the Prime Minister's first bilateral visit after assuming office.  

2. During the visit, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of China, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with H.E. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council,and met with H.E. Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The Prime Minister felicitated President Xi Jinping on his re-election as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), expressed admiration for his leadership, wisdom, vision and people-centered philosophy of development, and commended his contributions to continued growth of Pakistan-China relations. The Prime Minister welcomed President Xi to visit Pakistan. President Xi expressed that he would visit at his earliest convenience. The two leaders pledged to work together to further deepen the bilateral ties.

3. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed felicitations on the successful conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress. He lauded the central role of the CPC and its leadership in promoting China's development, prosperity and national rejuvenation. He expressed deep admiration for China's achievement in socio-economic development and contribution to reform of world politics and governance philosophy under the leadership of the CPC.  

4. Chinese leaders appreciated the long standing commitment of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China-Pakistan friendship. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthen and deepen Pakistan-China All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and enhance practical cooperation in all areas.

5. The two sides held in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relations as well as regional situation and international political landscape. The two sides agreed on the importance of China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership amidst the emerging global challenges. The meetings were marked by traditional warmth, mutual strategic trust and commonality of views.

6. The leaders reaffirmed that close strategic ties and profound friendship between China and Pakistan were time-tested and resilient. China-Pakistan friendship is a historic choice of both peoples that serves the interests of the two countries. The Chinese side reiterated that relations with Pakistan will always be given the highest priority in its foreign policy. The Pakistani side underscored that Pakistan-China relationship is the cornerstone of its foreign policy and that the Pakistani people always support the closest friendship between the two countries.

7. Both sides reiterated their mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests. The Pakistani side expressed its commitment to the one-China Policy and support on issues of Taiwan, South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. The Chinese side reaffirmed its support for Pakistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and promoting its socio-economic development and prosperity.

8. The Chinese leadership expressed condolences and sympathies on recent loss of life and property as a result of the unprecedented floods in Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed appreciation for the timely and generous assistance extended by the government and people of China, including the provision of disaster relief supplies, the contributions of Chinese expert teams on post-disaster assessment and health care to assist with damage assessment, experience sharing in post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation, and post-disaster disease response to step up capacity of medical treatment. China's mobilization of assistance was a vivid reflection of the time-tested All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries.

9. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed the Chinese leadership on the post-flood relief and rehabilitation efforts. The Chinese side expressed its resolve to stand by Pakistan in these difficult times and to continue offering assistance to Pakistan in the latter's plans for rehabilitation of the affected areas.

10. Both sides reviewed with satisfaction the outcomes of the three sessions of the Foreign Minister's Strategic Dialogue and agreed to hold its next meeting at the earliest possible in the first half of 2023 in Islamabad.

11. The two sides noted the key role of various bilateral cooperation mechanisms for deepening strategic communication and welcomed the holding of the Spokespersons Dialogue and the Consultations on Arms Control and Disarmament.

12. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed his Government's willingness to commit to high quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and highlighted the salience of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under BRI, to Pakistan's economic and social development.

13. The leaders took note of the convening of the 11th CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on 27 October 2022, which reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and agreed to continue the momentum of CPEC's high-quality development.

14. Recognizing that ML-1 is a project of key significance under the CPEC framework and of importance to Pakistan's socio-economic development, the two sides agreed to build upon the leadership consensus and to advance the process of its earliest implementation. They also agreed to actively advance the Karachi Circular Railway, which was an urgent requirement for Pakistan's biggest city.

15. Recognizing the significance of the Gwadar port as the leading project of CPEC and an important node in cross regional connectivity, both sides expressed satisfaction on the completion of key projects and agreed to speed up progress on other related projects of the Gwadar port and free zone.

16. In line with the leadership's consensus to accelerate cooperation in the areas of agriculture, mining, IT, socio-economic development under CPEC, the two sides agreed to further build on the health, industry, digital and green corridors launched earlier this year and carry out relevant cooperation.

17. The Chinese side appreciates the efforts of the Pakistani government to vigorously develop renewable energy projects including solar projects which aligns with the green, low carbon and environmental development of energy sector, and encourages participation of Chinese companies in this Pakistani endeavor.

18. The two sides agreed to actively promote the implementation of Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation to support Pakistan's industrial development.

19. Both sides expressed their strong determination to counter all threats and designs against CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan. The Chinese side appreciated Pakistan's strong determination and vigorous measures in this regard.

20. Noting completion of a decade of CPEC's remarkable achievements in 2023, the two sides expressed satisfaction at CPEC's contribution to socio-economic development of the two countries.

21. The two sides noted that the recent meeting of CPEC Joint Working Group on International Cooperation and Coordination (ICC) had highlighted that CPEC was an open and inclusive platform. Both sides welcomed interested third parties to benefit from investment opportunities in the priority areas of CPEC cooperation such as industry, agriculture, IT, science and technology, and oil and gas.

22. The two sides noted the steady increase in bilateral trade volume since the operationalization of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. Both sides resolved to further coordinate to enhance trade liberalization under the second phase of CPFTA and agreed to convene an early meeting of Committee on Trade in Goods.

23. The Chinese side expressed willingness to actively support the Pakistani side in expanding export to China and welcomed quality goods including food and agricultural products from Pakistan to enter the Chinese market. It was further agreed to encourage investments and partnerships in the export-oriented sectors of Pakistan which would contribute to achieving sustainable bilateral trade growth. The two sides agreed to conduct a Joint Study to further enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

24. The two sides agreed to fully leverage overland trade and exchanges by upgrading facilities at Khunjerab border port and strengthening cooperation on epidemic containment and customs clearance in border areas. They also agreed to work together to further strengthen the implementation of the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA), which is an important pillar of regional connectivity.

25. Acknowledging the massive size of China's e-commerce market and its potential to further bolster bilateral trade, the two sides welcomed the signing of an MOU on e-commerce and jointly supported the establishment of Pakistan's country pavilions on China's e-commerce platforms. The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation on online payment systems, logistics, warehousing and customs facilitation, and enhance collaboration between start-ups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

26. The two sides noted that the first meeting of the China-Pakistan Joint Working Group on Trade, Investment and E-commerce and the China-Pakistan Poverty Reduction and Social Development Forum were held this year, and exchanges and docking activities in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and shoe-making industries as well as capacity building courses on poverty reduction were organized. China is willing to continue relevant practical cooperation with Pakistan to contribute to poverty reduction and socioeconomic development in Pakistan.

27. The Pakistani side commended China's remarkable achievement of lifting over 800 million people out of absolute poverty. Noting the displacement of millions of people due to the recent floods in Pakistan, the Chinese side agreed to support the Pakistani government in recovering the economy in disaster-hit areas, including through the Benazir Income Support Program.

28. The two sides agreed to keep in close communication to provide further facilitation for Pakistani students to come to China. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Chinese leadership for the return of Pakistani students to Chinese education institutions.  

29. The two sides agreed to inject new impetus into people-to-people contacts, tourism cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two countries, appreciated the role of the cultural cooperation agreement between the two governments and its executive programmes and welcomed the extension of the current executive programme to 2027.

30. The two sides further welcomed the decision to celebrate China-Pakistan Year of Tourism Exchanges in 2023 and the organization of a Gandhara Art Exhibition at the Palace Museum in Beijing in 2022-2023.

31. Noting the gradual resumption of flight operation between the two countries, the two sides agreed to further increase the frequency of direct flights including between Islamabad and Beijing in due course.

32. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the close cooperation, trust and communication between the armed forces of the two countries. Underscoring that stronger strategic defence and security cooperation between China and Pakistan is an important factor of peace and stability in the region, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level mil-to-mil visits and exchanges and deepen cooperation in areas of training, joint exercises and military technology.

33. The two sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and expressed opposition to the politicization of the issue of counter terrorism. China recognized Pakistan's contributions and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. The two sides agreed to further enhance counter terrorism cooperation to promote international peace and security.

34. The two sides reiterated that a peaceful and prosperous South Asia is in the common interest of all parties. They emphasized the importance of resolving all outstanding disputes through sincere dialogue. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Kashmir issue was a dispute left from history that should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

35. On Afghanistan, the two sides agreed that a peaceful, prosperous, interconnected and stable Afghanistan is fundamental to regional prosperity and progress. They expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the three Foreign Ministers' meetings of the six neighbouring countries of Afghanistan and looked forward to the next meeting to be held in Uzbekistan.

36. The two sides underscored the need for the international community to provide continued assistance and support to Afghanistan including through unfreezing of Afghanistan's overseas financial assets. The two sides agreed to continue their humanitarian and economic assistance for the Afghan people and enhance development cooperation in Afghanistan, including through CPEC's extension to Afghanistan.

37. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and agreed to jointly promote multilateralism, free trade and win-win cooperation. They expressed satisfaction with their close cooperation at multilateral fora and are resolved to further deepen strategic communication, coordination and consultation.

38. The Pakistani side expressed support for the Global Development Initiative (GDI) put forward by the Chinese side. The two sides identified development as a key driver in ensuring the prosperity of nations. In this context they agreed to further enhance cooperation within the GDI framework for realization of SDGs. China expressed appreciation to Pakistan for participating in the Group of Friends of GDI as one of the pioneering members, and identified Pakistan as a priority partner under the GDI.

39. The Pakistani side expressed support for the Global Security Initiative (GSI) put forward by the Chinese side as it aligned with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The two sides agreed to promote international cooperation in this regard.

40. The two sides supported consensus-based reform of the UN to respond to the interests and concerns of all Member States.

41. The two sides underlined to further strengthen coordination and collaboration within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and jointly push for deeper SCO cooperation across the political, security, business, connectivity and people-to-people fields, so as to better serve the common interests of regional countries, and make greater contributions to safeguarding regional peace and stability, promoting prosperity and development, and improving global governance.

42. The two sides reiterated their commitment to advancing and protecting human rights for all in accordance with applicable international obligations and national circumstances. They stressed that bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the area of human rights should be guided by the principles of the UN Charter including respect for political independence, sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States.

43. The two sides recognized climate change as an existential threat and undertook to make concrete and concerted efforts to mitigate and adapt to the adverse impact of climate change. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the UNFCCC as well as to the goals, principles and provisions of its Paris Agreement, in particular the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).

44. The two sides recognized that the recent floods in Pakistan were closely linked to the adverse impact of climatic change for which developing countries bear little responsibility but are subject to a disproportionate impact. The two sides called on developed countries to fulfill their commitments, take the lead in emissions reduction to ensure the development rights and space for developing countries, and provide adequate climate financing to developing countries.

45. Appreciating Pakistan's initiative to combat human-induced climate change and China's initiative to promote green cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, the two sides agreed to step up cooperation in such areas as ecosystem restoration and water resource management.

46. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the leadership and people of China for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to him and his delegation and expressed his best wishes for China's continued development and prosperity and its vigorous pursuit of national rejuvenation.

47. The two sides signed and concluded a number of agreements/MoUs, covering bilateral cooperation in areas of e-commerce, digital economy, export of agricultural products, financial cooperation, protection of  cultural property, infrastructure, flood relief, post-disaster reconstruction, GDI, animal disease control, livelihood, cultural cooperation, space, geosciences as well as law enforcement and security.

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Photo taken on October 24, 2020 shows an Orange Line metro train pilot test run in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. The Orange Line Metro Train project is one of the CPEC early-harvest projects. Photo: Xinhua

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The Special Commemorative 12th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is to be ...

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A historic overview of Chinese rulers’ visits to Pakistan

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Pak-China friendship can be traced back to 1949, when Pakistan recognized China as an independent, sovereign state. In the early recognition of China’s independence, Pakistan refused to acknowledge the Taiwanese government, hence it laid the foundation for ties with China.

In 1956, Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-Lai visited Pakistan at a time when Hussain Shaheed Suharwardy was the latter country’s premier. Five years later, in 1964, Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-Lai visited Pakistan during General Ayub Khan’s era.

In 1984, Chinese President  Li Xiannian came on an official visit to Pakistan when the country was being governed by military dictator Zia-ul-Haq.

In 1989, when the newly elected and first female Muslim Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s democratic era had just commenced, Chinese PM Li Peng came to Pakistan.

Chinese President Yang Shangkun visited Pakistan in 1991 in a bid to foster and strengthen ties between Pakistan and China. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received the Chinese President in his first ever tenure as Pakistan’s PM.

In 1996, Chinese President Liu Shaoqi paid Pakistan a visit in order to cement the budding friendship between Pakistan and China.

Later in the same year, Chinese President Jian Zemin came to Pakistan when Benazir Bhutto was the ruling Prime Minister of Pakistan, during her second term.

In 2001, Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji granted Pakistan the honor of hosting him, during General Pervez Musharraf’s era.

Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Pakistan in 2006.

Just two years back in 2013, Prime Minister Li Keqiang called on his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari on his visit to Pakistan.

Xi Jinping, China’s current President, has undertaken an official trip this year. Pakistan’s administration is currently being led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in his third tenure as PM. The importance of the Chinese Head of State to Pakistan cannot be understated as major defense and economic discussions between the two states have been underway.

Benefits that Chinese Heads of States’ visits have provided for Pakistan  

In 1966, China provided Pakistan with military equipment as proof of its strong friendship with Pakistan. After the 1971 Indo-Pak war, in 1972 China held a strategic pact with Pakistan. In 1989 China started aiding Pakistan economically and the Islamic Republic in turn supported its ally by backing China at international forums, whenever China faced opposition on issues such as Ladakh, Taiwan and Tibet.

As per opinions voiced by experts, the establishment of an energy corridor stretching from China’s Xinjiang province till Pakistan’s Gwadar, will help in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy considerably. Important projects in which both countries are involved are the oil and gas, fiber optics and Karakorum Highway.

As far as defense cooperation between the two states are concerned, Al-Khalid tanks, JF thunder fighter jets and mutual cooperation in regards of missile, nuclear technology are proof of the longstanding Pak-China friendship.

Will the PML-N led govt be able to steer Pakistan out of economic crisis?

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China to unveil $46bn investment in Pakistan during visit by Xi Jingping

Chinese president’s rare visit and huge investment is part of plan to expand Beijing’s trade and transport footprint across Central and South Asia

The Chinese president, Xi Jinping , was due to make a rare visit to Pakistan on Monday where he is to unveil a $46bn investment plan which it is hoped will end the country’s chronic energy crisis and “transform” it into a regional economic hub.

With the plan, known as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (Cpec), Beijing hopes to ramp up investments in Pakistan as part of its ambitions to expand its trade and transport footprint across Central and South Asia, while countering US and Indian influence.

Pakistan, a Muslim majority country of 200m that has been battling an Islamist insurgency for more than a decade, hopes the investments will spur its long under-performing economy, which the IMF projects is set to grow 4.3% this year.

The two allies have enjoyed close diplomatic and military relations for decades, although economic ties have grown only more recently. Bilateral trade crossed $12bn last year, compared with only $2bn a decade earlier.

“The real opportunity of this China Pakistan Economic Corridor is that it changes the scope of the relationship from geopolitics to geoeconomics,” Ahsan Iqbal, the minister overseeing the projects, said.

The two countries are set to cooperate in natural gas, coal, and solar energy projects that will provide 16,400 megawatts of electricity – roughly equivalent to the country’s entire current capacity, Iqbal said.

Pakistan has wrestled with chronic power shortages in recent years that have scrubbed several points off GDP growth and inflicted misery on its citizens’ lives.

“These are very substantial and tangible projects which will have a significant transformative effect on Pakistan’s economy,” Iqbal said.

The project also foresees the creation of road, rail and pipeline links that will cut several thousand kilometres off the route to transport oil from the Middle East to China, while bypassing their mutual rival, India.

The upgrade stretches 3,000km from the Pakistani port of Gwadar on the Arabia Sea to China’s western city of Kashgar.

Pakistan transferred control of the port to a Chinese public company in 2013. Iqbal said $11bn has been set aside for the purpose.

The projected investments, $28bn of which are ready to sign during Xi’s visit, dwarf a US assistance package to Pakistan of $5bn that was begun in 2010, but has not had as great an impact as hoped.

Referring to the US aid, signed under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act (KLB), Iqbal said: “KLB was $1.5bn per year, out of which only $600 to $700m went to government. Most of it went to non-government sectors and the bulk went to American companies.

“That is a problem with assistance that comes through the aid mode.”

Iqbal was more optimistic when it came to China’s investment: “The roads and rail links will help us integrate the three engines of growth in Asia: South Asia, Central Asia and China. Pakistan will become the economic hub of the region.”

Some analysts, however, have cautioned that the eye-watering figures being trumpeted look too good to be true and the government will have its work cut out turning the infrastructure projects into reality, particularly in the restive Baluchistan province, where a separatist insurgency has raged since 2004.

“I just hope that Beijing’s big-ticket projects are matched by Islamabad’s clear commitment and action on the ground,” said Sherry Rehman, an opposition politician and the director of the Jinnah Institute thinktank.

“Executive stalemate in Islamabad can kill off the best projects from an ally like Beijing. So basically the economic corridor needs to be paved with more than good intentions from Islamabad,” she said.

Beyond economic matters, questions of regional security will be high on the list during discussions between the two leaders.

China is wary of of the infiltration of militant Islamists from Pakistan to its western Xinjiang province which is frequently hit by unrest, and may be looking from greater assurances from Islamabad on the matter.

In February, China expressed its willingness to support the Afghan government in reconciling with the Taliban, another issue that could be discussed during the visit.

Xi’s two-day trip, the first by a Chinese president in nine years, was initially scheduled for September but was later postponed because of anti-government protests in the capital aimed at toppling the government of the prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

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Pakistan blindly trusts China, PM Kakar tells President Xi Jinping

Encourages chinese firms to explore pakistan’s vast potential n says cpec to bring about pakistan’s economic prosperity, regional connectivity.

Invites Chinese president to visit Pakistan.

BEIJING  -  Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-HaqKakar on Thursday, calling the bilateral partnership made in “heaven”, said that Pakistan blindly trusted China and that the country would not allow anything to undermine the bilateral strategic partnership.

The prime minister, in his opening remarks while meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Pakistan firmly supported One China policy and would show it through its actions, not mere words.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum, attended by leadership and representatives of around 140 nations.

“Pakistan will not take an inch back when it comes to our relations with China,” he remarked as the two leaders met to discuss the bilateral and regional matters.

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President Xi warmly received the prime minister as he arrived to hold the meeting accompanied by his delegation members, including Shamshad Akhtar, Sarfaraz Bugti, Gohar Ejaz and others.

The prime minister thanked the Chinese leader for inviting him to attend the historic Belt and Road Forum and also congratulated him for the resounding success of the event. He said President Xi’s address at the Forum was “profound, deep and visionary”, which offered a lot of opportunities for the countries like Pakistan. “I used to hear the phrases of (Pak-China friendship) ‘sweeter than honey’ and ‘iron clad brotherhood’, but I realise that this moment is for Pakistan when you say ‘when China does well, the rest of the world does well.’

“This is the moment for Pakistan to come and seize the opportunity,” he remarked.

He said eight proposals President Xi had put forth at the Forum were actually a roadmap for not just physical connectivity but also an important stabilising factor in international order. Prime Minister Kakar said the Belt and Road Initiative was a “pragmatic” and “practical” answer to the global political, economic and civilisational challenges faced by many nations. He said China’s unprecedented progress was a role model which transformed the lives of the millions of its people, also having no parallel in the world history.

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He told the Chinese president that across the whole political structures in Pakistan, there was no dissenting view about China. Prime Minister Kakar said that President Xi’s vision of the community of shared future was very relevant in the current disturbing time. In his remarks, President Xi said that China stood ready to work with Pakistan to carry forward the traditional friendship and deepen the bilateral partnership.

He also reiterated the resolve to accelerate building China-Pakistan partnership in the new era of community for shared future for benefit of the two peoples. He also assured that China was committed for the high quality development of CPEC development and working for peace development in the region.

Meanwhile, Kakar in his media platform /X/ said he has extended invitation to President Xi to visit Pakistan which he graciously accepted. “We discussed various dimensions of the multi-faceted Pakistan-China relationship, and reaffirmed our longstanding and steadfast friendship, all-weather strategic cooperation, economic and trade ties, and CPEC. I congratulated him on the success of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum and the 10th anniversary of BRI,” he wrote on the social media platform ‘X’. The prime minister said during the meeting he underscored that Pakistan would continue working with China to promote regional connectivity and economic development, to make Gwadar as a connectivity hub, and for the socio-economic development of Pakistan. 

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“President Xi reassured that China would continue supporting Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development, and would continue supporting us in harnessing our geo-economic potential and as a hub of regional trade and economics, which is our shared vision,” he added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kakar met with a number of Chinese corporate executives on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum here. During the meeting, he encouraged China’s corporate executives to explore the vast investment potential of Pakistan.

The CEOs and executives of Chinese enterprises who called on the prime minister included Minmetals, MCC, China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), COFCO, Amer International Group, China Energy, Power China and China Gezhouba Group.

The prime minister apprised the Chinese businessmen of Pakistan’s initiatives for economic and financial stability. Sharing Pakistan’s vision for sustainable and inclusive development, he outlined Pakistan’s investor- friendly policies; including the establishment of Special Investment Facilitation Council, which will act as a one-window platform to facilitate foreign investment.

Operation against encroachments continues

He encouraged the Chinese corporate executives to explore the vast investment potential of Pakistan, especially in ICT, agriculture, renewable energy, textile, digital economy and, mining and minerals sectors. Appreciating the measures taken by Pakistan to attract foreign investment, the entrepreneurs briefed the prime minister on their business portfolios in Pakistan. They also expressed their keen interest in working with Pakistani partners to expand their business footprint in Pakistan. Prime Minister Kakar also invited the executives of Chinese companies to Pakistan to discuss their business interests with relevant ministers. In a separate meeting with Chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency LuoZhaohui, the prime minister said that termed CPEC a landmark project in the history of Pakistan- China relations.

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6 years on, Xi's Pakistan visit booms development, friendship with shared future

-- Six years after Chinese president's state visit, a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future is becoming a reality and setting a fine example for the rest of the world.

-- According to data by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has helped Pakistan rake in 25.4 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment since inauguration, offering more than 75,000 jobs to local people.

--The special friendship between China and Pakistan is a historical choice, and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, who have always extended a helping hand to each other in times of need.

--The mutual support and bilateral cooperation in the face of huge challenges have shown the world the true meaning of an all-weather friendship.

by Deng Kaiyin, Li Hao and Liu Tian

ISLAMABAD -- For hundreds of years, the lofty Karakoram mountain range has never been the hurdle between the two ancient civilizations of China and Pakistan, but rather a witness to the ever-deepening friendship between the two peoples.

The rolling mountain observed a new height of friendly exchanges between the two countries in 2015 when the plane taking Chinese President Xi Jinping for a two-day state visit to Pakistan flew over it.

During the visit, the two sides forged their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and mapped out strategic arrangements and a long-term plan for future bilateral development.

Six years on, benefits of the fruitful visit thrive across the South Asian country. A closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future is becoming a reality and setting a fine example for the rest of the world.

A train for the Orange Line arrives at a subway station in Lahore, Pakistan, Oct. 26, 2020. [Xinhua/Liu Tian]

CPEC's NEW CHAPTER

Back to 2015, Pakistan was deeply-marred by terrorism, and few countries in the world were willing to invest in the country, said Mushahid Hussain Syed, chairman of the Pakistani Senate's standing committee on foreign affairs. The South Asian country was looking forward to an economic take-off to stabilize its society.

"China and Pakistan need to align development strategies more closely to realize the dreams of our peoples," Xi said in a signed article published ahead of his Pakistan visit.

During the visit, the two sides signed more than 50 cooperation deals, and agreed to center the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with four key areas namely the Gwadar Port, transport infrastructure, energy and industrial cooperation.

The CPEC blueprint is now a reality. Three major coal-fired power plants with world's top environment friendly technologies have generated more than 71.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity since they were combined to the grid, ending Pakistan's history of power outages of an average of 12 hours per day.

In 2020, major CPEC energy projects generated about one-third of the total electricity injecting into the national grid, said Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong. With planned hydropower plants including Karot and Suki Kinari under construction, Pakistan's energy structure will be further improved in the near future.

Photo taken on Nov. 18, 2019 shows the expressway section from Havelian to Mansehra under the Karakoram Highway Phase Two project in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. [Xinhua/Liu Tian]

The CPEC has also enhanced connectivity. The Karakoram Highway Phase Two project, along with the Sukkur-Multan Motorway, CPEC's largest transport infrastructure project, has connected the heartland of the country with its remote northern region and financial center in the south. The eco-friendly Orange Line metro train in Pakistan's cultural center Lahore has served over 10 million passengers within six months.

Facing the Arabian Sea and the Middle East, the re-functioned Gwadar Port has welcomed Afghan transit cargo, facilitating goods movement in the region and "helping make Pakistan the hub of transit trade in the region," said Pakistani President Arif Alvi. With a new international airport and a coastal expressway linking the airport to a newly-built free trade zone, Gwadar is sailing towards the dream of becoming a "New Dubai" in Pakistan.

According to data by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan in March, the CPEC has helped Pakistan rake in 25.4 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) since inauguration, offering more than 75,000 jobs to local people. In fact, China has been Pakistan's largest source of FDI for the past seven years, and its largest trading partner over the last six years.

Xi's visit was very important, and what the two countries planned at that time "is in the pipeline, is happening, is going on," Alvi told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Photo taken on Jan. 29, 2018 shows a view of Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Gwadar. [Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal]

ALL-WEATHER FRIENDSHIP

"My friend's lovely image dwells in the mirror of my heart; I tilt my head slightly, and here it comes into my sight." Xi quoted an Urdu poem in the signed article to describe what Pakistan is like in his own heart.

The special friendship between China and Pakistan is a historical choice, and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, who have always extended a helping hand to each other in times of need.

When the devastating earthquake struck China's Wenchuan in 2008, Pakistan shipped its entire reserve of tents to China. When Pakistan was hit by a severe flood in 2010, China dispatched its largest ever medical team to the South Asian country.

Amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Alvi wrote a letter to Xi to express consolations to the Chinese people, and visited China in March 2020. Pakistan's National Assembly and Senate have both passed a resolution on offering full support to China's anti-pandemic fight.

In return, China has sent medical teams and donated anti-epidemic materials to Pakistan. Besides, Pakistan became the first country to receive COVID-19 vaccine aid from China, and took part in the Phase III trial of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, ensuring more safety for its citizens while gaining first-hand medical experiences.

"In every situation, on every step, our Chinese counterparts are always providing us firm support," recalled Omeira Naseer, supervisor of the vaccine trial at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. "We have a very nice experience with our Chinese counterparts."

A handover ceremony of a batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccine is held at Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad, Pakistan, Feb. 1, 2021. [Xinhua/Liu Tian]

The mutual support and bilateral cooperation in the face of huge challenges have shown the world the true meaning of an all-weather friendship.

"By all-weather, we mean that our two countries will always move ahead together rain or shine. This description of China-Pakistan partnership is a most appropriate one, as it aptly defines the all-weather friendship and all-round cooperation between China and Pakistan," Xi said in 2015 at the Parliament of Pakistan.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan, Alvi said the anniversary will be a new starting point, and the all-weather friendship between the two countries will be stronger in the future.

SHARED FUTURE

"Over the years, thanks to the nurturing of generations of leaders and people from all sectors of both countries, China-Pakistan friendship has flourished like a tree growing tall and strong," Xi said in the signed article.

Now younger generations have taken over the relay baton of exchanges. The Chinese education sector has welcomed an increasing number of Pakistani students, while more and more people in Pakistan are learning Chinese. Besides, there have also been closer cooperation between sister cities, media outlets and think tanks from both countries.

During the state visit six years ago, Xi noted that the friendship between China and Pakistan is based on trust and mutual support. "Our friendship is a pacesetter for amicable relations between countries."

Pakistan was the first Islamic country to establish diplomatic ties with China. Since then, the iron-clad relationship has set a good example of mutual learning and friendly cooperation between different civilizations.

Students attend a Chinese language class at a campus of the Roots Millennium Schools in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 11, 2021. [Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal]

China has always taken the development of its ties with Pakistan as a priority in its neighboring diplomacy, while Pakistan continues to give China top priority in its foreign policy. The two sides firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.

The high degree of mutual trust has enabled the two sides to keep a close communication and coordination at international and regional fora like the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

"Committed to building a China-Pakistan community of common destiny, we cooperate to expand our converging interests and strive for common development," said Xi in the signed article.

Noting that China-Pakistan relations "have gone well beyond the bilateral context," Xi during his state visit in 2015 called on both sides to "increase coordination and collaboration on major regional and global issues."

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in August last year that the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries is beneficial to international and regional peace and stability.

The idea of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" proposed by Xi is the only option to defeat global challenges, said Alvi. 

Video reporters: Jiang Chao, Liu Tian; video editors: Liu Yuanyuan, Pei Lei

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Chinese vice premier to visit Pakistan today

Lifeng will be chief guest at event celebrating decade of CPEC

Chinese Vice Prime Minister He Lifeng will visit Pakistan on July 30 to attend the 10th anniversary celebrations of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said the foreign ministry spokesperson on Saturday.

A member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the vice premier will also call on President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit.

Lifeng will be the chief guest at an event celebrating the decade of CPEC during his visit from July 30 to August 1, added the spokesperson.

"The vice prime minister has played a prominent role in China’s international economic relations and implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, of which CPEC is a flagship project. As the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (2017-23), he was instrumental in the planning and execution of multiple CPEC projects in Pakistan."

Read CPEC playing critical role in economic, social uplift

"The visit is part of regular high-level exchanges and dialogue between Pakistan and China. It reflects the importance attached by Pakistan and China to further deepen their 'All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership', enhance economic and financial cooperation, advance high-quality development of CPEC, and explore new avenues for strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries."

China invested close to $30 billion in 10 years mainly focusing on energy and infrastructure projects. The second phase of CPEC envisaging special economic zones could not move ahead primarily because of the PTI government’s policy to slow down the project.

However, CPEC gathered renewed attention since the change of government in April last year.

Also read CPEC attracted $25.4b in 10 years: Beijing

China bailed out Pakistan at a crucial juncture when Islamabad was on the verge of a sovereign default.

Beijing rolled over and refinanced loans that helped Islamabad keep its foreign reserves to a level where it could avoid a default.

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Why is Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi visiting Pakistan?

Raisi is set to hold talks with top Pakistani leaders as the two nations aim to boost trade and resolve border issues.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is in Pakistan on a three-day trip to discuss regional and bilateral relations days after Iran and Israel carried out attacks against each other, risking the Gaza war to expand into a regional conflict.

Raisi is scheduled to hold talks with top Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif , as the two neighbours seek to mend ties after tit-for-tat missile attacks in January.

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Local media reported that Raisi will also meet General Asim Munir , the head of Pakistan’s military, which wields huge political and economic influence in the South Asian nation.

What’s the agenda of the trip?

Raisi arrived in the capital, Islamabad, on Monday as the two neighbours aim to boost economic, border and energy ties.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, in line with the neighbourhood policy … is interested in promoting relations with Pakistan and during this trip, various issues including economic and commercial issues, energy and border issues will be discussed with the government of Pakistan,” a statement by the Iranian presidential office said on Monday.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for improving bilateral ties.

“The two sides will have a wide-ranging agenda to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties and enhance cooperation in diverse fields including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts,” the statement said.

The Iranian president will visit major cities, including Lahore and Karachi, and focus on bilateral and trade ties, it said.

Mosharraf Zaidi, a partner at advisory services firm Tabadlab and former adviser to the Foreign Ministry, told Al Jazeera in a written statement that Raisi’s trip is “an effort to secure an expression of support from Islamabad and Rawalpindi [military leadership] for Iran – as it stumbles deeper into a dangerous conflict with Israel”.

Zaidi added that Iran’s strategic thinkers are aware that Pakistan has both a domestic political crisis and a growing range of economic compulsions that limit the range of movement on Pakistan’s engagement in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

What’s the status of Iran-Pakistan ties?

Iran and Pakistan have a history of a troubled relationship, with both accusing each other of failing to rein in armed groups.

The border tensions escalated in January when Iran carried out air attacks across the border in Pakistan killing two children. The Iranian state media said the attack was targeting two bases of the armed group Jaish al-Adl . Pakistan retaliated by firing a missile into Iranian territory and recalling its ambassador from Tehran.

But the two neighbours decided to de-escalate tensions, with Tehran rushing its top diplomat to Islamabad to mend ties. The two countries agreed to confront the “menace of terrorism” together, especially in the border region. Before Raisi’s visit, Tehran and Islamabad talked about combating “terrorism”.

“At that time, Pakistan had a caretaker government in place. So what Iranians had indicated was that after the new government comes in, there could be a visit to repair the relationship and rebuild confidence,” Muhammad Faisal, a PhD Scholar at the University of Technology Sydney who specialises in Pakistan’s foreign policy, said.

Why is the Pakistan-Iran relationship vital?

Foreign policy analysts in Pakistan have backed re-engagement with Iran despite the border tensions.

“Pakistan has troubled borders with India as well as with Afghanistan. And therefore, to have a normal, stable relationship with Iran has been of utmost importance for Pakistan, and it remains so,” veteran Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi told Al Jazeera in the wake of the January border tensions.

Islamabad and Tehran have been aiming to boost bilateral trade, which currently stands at more than $2bn.

Faisal told Al Jazeera that there is a sizable informal trade between the two countries, including liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and crude oil. He added that Iran also provides electricity to Balochistan province and other border areas in Pakistan.

In May 2023, Sharif and Raisi inaugurated the first border market at the Mand-Pishin border crossing.

Moreover, the two neighbours have close cultural and religious ties, with tens of thousands of Shia minority people from Pakistan going to Iran every year on pilgrimage.

However, Tabadlab’s Zaidi said common cultural bonds and a long border – 900km (559 miles) – have not translated into people-to-people exchanges and deep trade ties.

“Instead, trade is mostly outside the formal domain and travel is restricted to religious tourism,” he said.

On the eve of his trip, the Iranian president set a target of $10bn in bilateral trade, saying the level of economic relations between the two countries is not equal to the level of political relations. Last August, they had set the bilateral trade target at $5bn.

A plan to build a pipeline to export Iranian natural gas to Pakistan has been stalled amid opposition from the United States, which has slapped a wide range of sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Faisal, from the University of Technology Sydney, said the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline might be discussed during the talks.

How has Pakistan responded to Iran-Israel tensions?

On April 14, a day after Iran’s strikes on Israel, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for de-escalation . The statement deemed the events “the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy”.

“These also underline the ‘grave’ implications in cases where the UN Security Council is unable to fulfil its responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security,” the ministry statement said.

It further said Pakistan underlined the necessity of international efforts to prevent further hostilities in the region and for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“It’s now critically urgent to stabilise the situation and restore peace. We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint,” the statement concluded.

Pakistan does not recognise Israel and does not have direct channels of communication with it.

“In recent years, there has been growing conjecture about pressure from GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries on Pakistan to make changes to its Palestine policy. There is no indication that such a change is on the cards,” Zaidi said.

Today's Paper | April 30, 2024

Confusion over chinese president’s visit to pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: There has been a great deal of confusion on Thursday surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan and as to whether the trip has been cancelled or delayed.

Reports suggest that the visit, scheduled from 14th to 16th September, may be cancelled due to the ongoing political tensions in Islamabad between the government and protestors led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri.

National Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor to the PM Sartaj Aziz said during an interview on DawnNews, that the Chinese leader’s visit will not be cancelled but it is a possibility that it could be delayed.

At the same time Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Twitter that the visit had been cancelled and lashed out at the PTI and PTA leaders.

However, the Chinese Embassy has said that they have no knowledge of President Xi Jinping's visit being cancelled and that they are monitoring the situation in Islamabad closely.

On Wednesday Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam told Dawn.com that the visit by President Jinping is on schedule and was not being cancelled or changed.

This statement was made after a high-level Chinese team comprising of security and protocol of the Chinese president arrived in Islamabad to finalise the dates of the visit.

Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri have themselves given assurances that there would be no attempt on their part to create an impediment for President Jinping’s visit.

Khan and Qadri have both paid tribute to the Chinese president and have said that China was Pakistan’s closest friend.

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• Iranian President extends invitations to President, PM  to undertake official visits to Iran
• Both sides emphasize importance of collaborative approach to confront terrorism in all its forms and manifestations

ISLAMABAD: In a landmark development aimed at bolstering diplomatic ties between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Dr Seyed Ebrahim Raisi of Iran concluded his official visit to Pakistan on Wednesday.

The visit, spanning from April 22nd to April 24th, was initiated on the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, marking a significant step towards enhancing cooperation and fostering mutual understanding between the two neighboring nations.

Accompanied by a distinguished delegation comprising the Foreign Minister of Iran, H.E. Amir Abdollahian, and other esteemed members of the Iranian cabinet and senior officials, President Raisi engaged in delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The discussions encompassed a wide array of topics, including the review of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, as well as exchanges of views on regional and global issues of mutual concern.

The visit also witnessed the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Agreements, signifying a commitment to deepening cooperation across various sectors. Amidst these discussions, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue and peaceful means, based on the will of the Kashmiri people and in accordance with international law.

Economic cooperation emerged as a focal point of discussions, with both sides expressing a commitment to expanding trade and economic ties. President Raisi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to elevate the bilateral trade volume to USD 10 billion over the next five years. They outlined joint development-oriented economic projects, including the establishment of joint border markets, economic free zones, and new border openings, aimed at transforming the common border into a corridor of prosperity.

Furthermore, the leaders emphasized the importance of cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in trade in electricity and the implementation of the IP Gas Pipeline Project. Efforts to finalize the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and facilitate the regular exchange of economic and technical experts were also underscored as priorities for enhancing economic cooperation.

In the realm of regional connectivity, Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to promoting connectivity between the two countries and the broader region. They welcomed progress in the regular shipment of goods under the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) Convention and pledged to fully operationalize the Convention to facilitate efficient and barrier-free trade.

Additionally, both nations condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative approach to confront this menace while upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states. They called for peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy and reiterated their support for the resolution of the Kashmir issue based on the will of the Kashmiri people and in accordance with international law.

In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, Pakistan and Iran condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression and atrocities against the Palestinian people, advocating for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, and a just, comprehensive solution based on the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

President Raisi’s visit also included stops in Lahore and Karachi, where he paid homage to prominent historical figures and engaged in meetings with business leaders to explore avenues for enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

In closing, President Raisi extended warm invitations to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to undertake official visits to Iran, underscoring a commitment to further deepening and diversifying bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran.

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