Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Meet the Press Together

On March 21, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met the press together in Islamabad.

Wang Yi said that it is a pleasure to attend the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the invitation of Foreign Minister Qureshi. It is also my first bilateral visit to Pakistan since the COVID-19 outbreak. Foreign Minister Qureshi and I held extensive and in-depth talks in a friendly and cohesive atmosphere, which consolidated our traditional friendship, enhanced strategic coordination, and promoted practical cooperation. We both agree that facing the profoundly evolving international circumstances and turbulence and challenges in the world, China and Pakistan need to strengthen strategic communication, work together to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, inject stability into regional peace and prosperity, and contribute positive energy to world development and progress.

Wang Yi put forward four suggestions on the development of China-Pakistan relations.

First, we need to firmly support each other. No matter how the international circumstances and the situation in both countries change, China will stick to its friendly policy toward Pakistan, firmly support the Pakistani people in pursuing a development path that fits their national conditions, and support Pakistan in defending its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China hopes that all political parties in Pakistan will strengthen cooperation and unity to ensure development and stability in the country.

Second, we need to accelerate common development and revitalization. China and Pakistan should enhance the integration of development strategies, build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with high quality, and stay committed to advancing key cooperation projects and expand cooperation in green development, digitalization, poverty reduction, health and other fields. China will support Pakistan in developing industries, strengthening commerce and revitalizing agriculture so as to achieve a more balanced, independent and sustainable development.

Third, we need to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation. China supports Pakistan in severely punishing the perpetrators of the Dasu terrorist attack, appreciates its efforts to strengthen the security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan, and will, as always, help Pakistan improve its law enforcement and security capacities.

Fourth, we need to maintain closer multilateral coordination. The two countries should strengthen coordination on international and regional issues such as Afghanistan and Ukraine, jointly practice true multilateralism, earnestly safeguard the basic norms governing international relations, oppose power politics, bullying and unilateral sanctions, and make the international order fairer and more equitable.