On April 23, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif of Pakistan in Beijing.
Wang Yi expressed that the current China-Pakistan relations have enjoyed a sound momentum of development. The two sides have maintained all-round and close exchanges, and coordinated and cooperated with each other on major international and regional issues. The smooth progress of the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has brought tangible well-being to the local people, with the friendship between the two peoples continuously being deepened. China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to well implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and conduct closer strategic communication and more comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to promote China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to new highs. China will continue firmly supporting the efforts made by Pakistan in safeguarding national sovereignty, seeking its own development and creating a sound external environment.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that Pakistan and China are "iron friends", and no matter how the situation changes, the two countries will always stand side by side. Pakistan is willing to strengthen exchanges with China at all levels and propel the CPEC and other major cooperation projects so as to continuously deepen the close relationship between the two sides. Pakistan firmly supports the core interests of China, expects China to play a greater role in international and regional affairs, and congratulates China beforehand on a complete success of the Qingdao Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Pakistan is pleased to see the leaders of China and India hold the informal meeting, which is believed to play a positive role in regional peace and the improvement of relations among all countries.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.