Wang Yi Meets with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

On February 6, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Wang Yi said, you are welcome to accompany Prime Minister Imran Khan to China to attend the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, to celebrate the Chinese New Year with us, and to witness the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 together. Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to China brings the support and blessings of Pakistani "ironclad brother" and once again highlights the unique strategic mutual trust and deep friendship between the two countries. China is willing to work with Pakistan to comprehensively and vigorously promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in various fields and accelerate the building of a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Wang Yi said that as an ironclad friend and all-weather strategic partner of Pakistan, China firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, firmly supports Pakistan in achieving national prosperity and revitalization, and firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding the country's legitimate rights and interests. The current international and regional situation is complex and undergoing profound changes. In this case, China and Pakistan should, as always, work together for national revitalization and development while jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice as well as world peace and stability.

Wang Yi said that after nine years' construction, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a leading project to achieve common development of the two countries and has achieved fruitful results. China is willing to communicate closely with Pakistan on the next priority direction of the building of the Corridor, highlighting the priorities and clarifying the sequence, so as to promote the high-quality development of the Corridor building, help Pakistan to promote agricultural modernization and new industrialization, and enhance its capacity of independent development.

Qureshi said that it is a great pleasure to celebrate the Chinese New Year with the Chinese people. Sports should not be subject to political interference. This visit that Prime Minister Imran Khan came to China with a large number of cabinet ministers is to express Pakistan's firm support to the Chinese side to host the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, showing that the Pakistani side stands with the Chinese government and the Chinese people. Pakistan firmly adheres to the one-China principle and unreservedly supports China's stance on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and other issues concerning its core interests. Pakistan thanks China for its long-standing and strong support for Pakistan in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan firmly believes that China's development is unstoppable. Pakistan is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in industry, agriculture, science and technology, and defense, among other fields, so as to continue to promote the building of the CPEC and continuously elevate bilateral relations to new levels. The Pakistani side will take all measures to ensure the security of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan.

The two sides agreed to further deepen communication and coordination on the Afghan issue, implement the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle, give full play to the role of the cooperation platform of the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, maintain peace and stability in Afghanistan, and promote national reconstruction in Afghanistan. Both sides stressed, as the culprit of the Afghan issue, the United States should assume its due responsibility by lifting unilateral sanctions as soon as possible so as to clear away obstacles to the economic recovery and the improvement of people's livelihood in Afghanistan.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.