Pakistan, China agree to collectively safeguard common interests

HAINAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi today (Friday) in the Hainan province of China.

According to a joint statement following the second round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, FM Qureshi and his Chinese counterpart exchanged views on COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral relations, and international and regional issues of mutual interest.

“The Foreign Ministers reached consensus to collectively take measures to safeguard their common interests and promote peace, prosperity, and development in the region,” it added.

The joint statement further stated, “Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in developing a vaccine to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, and strive to promote establishment of China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future and Community of Common Health.

“Both sides opposed politicizing the pandemic, labeling viruses; supported WHO to play a leading role in global public health governance, and called for the international community to increase the sense of a community of shared future and carry out effective joint prevention and control measures in order to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19,” it added.

On the occasion, the Chinese side reiterated that Pakistan and China are iron brothers and Pakistan remains China’s staunchest partner in the region and that Beijing firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

“Pakistan and China underscored that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has entered a new phase of high-quality development and will continue to play an important role in achieving greater development,” it stated.

The Foreign Ministers vowed to continue to firmly advance the construction of CPEC, ensure in-time completion of under-construction projects and focus on economic and social development.