President Alvi discusses bilateral relations with Chinese counterpart

ISLAMABAD/ BEIJING: President Arif Alvi on Tuesday met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing and discussed a wide range of issues to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The historic meeting of the leaders reinforced the shared commitment of Pakistan and China to take all-weather and time-tested friendship to new heights.

It further reinforced the commitment to further strengthen the existing unique equation, not only for the benefit of the two countries but for the whole region. The entire gamut of Pak-China strategic relations was discussed during the meeting.

President Alvi and President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding and four Letters of Exchange at a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People.

The documents were signed at the conclusion of a bilateral meeting between both leaders. The first was an “MoU on Establishing Joint Working Group on Science and Technology and Agriculture between the Governments of People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”

This would lead to establishment of two separate Joint Working Groups, one on science and technology and the other on agriculture, under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Another agreement was signed called the “MoU between Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA) and Ministry of National Food Security and Research of Pakistan (NFS&R) on Strengthening Cooperation on Plant and Disease Control”

This would help in monitoring and control of major pests and diseases and improve agricultural productivity. Letters of Exchange signed at the ceremony will play an important role in combating Covid-19 in Pakistan.

President Arif Alvi was on a two-day visit on the invitiation of President Xi Jinping. He was accompanied by a delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Asad Umar.

Earlier, President Dr. Arif Alvi met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing and has said Pakistan and China believe in coexistence and non-interference and their relations are based on mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

Premier Li Keqiang welcomed the president and thanked for supporting China during testing times. He said that not only they need to enhance our cooperation to jointly fight challenges but must also work to demonstrate our firm commitment on cooperation with the international community.

Meanwhile, President Alvi met group of Pakistani students in Beijing and urged them to start an awareness campaign on social media about coronavirus. He said the Chinese government has also appreciated the decision of Pakistan for not bringing back Pakistani students as prevention is the only way to avoid it.