Wang Yi Attends the Launch Ceremony in Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of China-Pakistan Diplomatic Relations

On March 2, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the launch ceremony in celebration of the 70th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi via video link in Beijing and delivered a speech.

Wang Yi said that China and Pakistan enjoy a lasting bond of friendship. In the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, thanks to the commitment of generations of our leaders, China and Pakistan shared weal and woe and sincerely helped each other, and thus built all-round cooperation and all-weather friendship. Great strides are being made in the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the concept of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future is deeply rooted. The "iron brotherhood" between China and Pakistan has become a vivid reflection of genuine friendship between the two peoples.

Wang Yi said that China and Pakistan should take this 70th anniversary as an opportunity to initiate higher-quality, more extensive, and deeper cooperation. The two sides should deepen political mutual trust and continue to firmly support each other on issues of respective core interests and major concerns, enhance communication and coordination on issues of strategic importance, and stand shoulder to shoulder in response to international and regional changes as well as various risks and challenges.

Wang Yi said that the two sides should remain committed to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, steadily push forward the CPEC and forge new cooperation highlights, so as to make China-Pakistan cooperation deliver greater benefits to the two peoples. The two sides should pass our friendship onto future generations and encourage the two peoples, especially the younger generation, to participate more actively in the friendly exchanges between the two countries, in a bid to increase mutual understanding and affinity between our two peoples and strengthen the new forces to carry forward China-Pakistan friendship. The two sides should practice multilateralism and make new contributions to the settlement of regional hot spot issues, to international cooperation against terrorism, and to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke highly of China's development achievements and the fruitful cooperation between Pakistan and China. He said that China has created a miracle of economic and social development by lifting over 800 million people out of poverty, which is an unprecedented and extraordinary achievement in human history. The past 70 years have witnessed closer strategic and political collaboration and deepening practical cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership has become the cornerstone of regional peace, stability and development. Pakistan firmly adheres to the one-China principle, resolutely supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and strongly believes that the CPEC will become an exemplary project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

After the speech, the two foreign ministers jointly unveiled the logo of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations. Before the launch ceremony, Wang Yi and Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque visited the photo exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties.

Relevant government and local officials and business heads from both sides also attended the launch ceremony.