MM News

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Tuesday) has asserted that India’s hegemonic designs and expansionist agenda were imperiling peace and stability in the region.

The statement came during a meeting with the Chinese delegation in Islamabad, where they discussed bilateral relations and matters pertaining to the Kashmir dispute, the COVID-19 pandemic, CPEC, and others.

Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Defence General Wei Fenghe is leading a high-level delegation to Islamabad on a three-day official visit which is aimed at further solidifying and expanding Pakistan-China ties, an official statement said.

Gen Wei conveyed warm greetings from China’s President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to PM Imran Khan, underscoring the importance the leadership in Beijing attached to its relations with Islamabad.

Welcoming the Chinese defence minister’s visit to Pakistan, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of regular high-level exchanges, even in the time of COVID-19.

The Prime Minister stressed that the two countries were bound by ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ based on mutual trust, understanding and commonality of views. “Pakistan firmly adhered to One-China policy and supported China on issues of its core national interest,” PM Imran added.

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Defence of China General Wei Fenghe called on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI.

General Wei is leading a high-level delegation to Pakistan on a three-day official visit. pic.twitter.com/fS8w0j8D2x

— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) December 1, 2020

PM Imran also appreciated China’s development model that has lifted millions of people out of poverty, adding that Pakistan wishes to emulate this example. He further lauded China’s consistent support to Pakistan in pursuit of national development goals.

He also underlined the serious threat posed by RSS-BJP dispensation through belligerent actions, discriminatory measures against Indian minorities, and harshest steps to curb all the freedoms of innocent Kashmiris in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Referring to COVID-19, the premier appreciated China’s success in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic. He also thanked the Government and the people of China for extending solidarity and material support to Pakistan to manage COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking about the CPEC, PM Imran underscored that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was transformational, stressing that the economic and social impact of CPEC on the region will be substantial and beneficial.

During the meeting, General Wei Fenghe underlined that Pakistan was China’s close friend, good neighbor and ‘iron brother’. Underscoring the depth and breadth of China-Pakistan ties, he conveyed Chinese leadership’s firm commitment to further strengthening China-Pakistan ties in a host of areas.

General Wei underlined that the South Asia and Arabian Sea Region needed peace, stability and economic development and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in advancing those goals.