Wang Yi Meets with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

On February 17, 2023 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang Yi said that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and China-Pakistan friendship remains rock-solid. China is ready to work with Pakistan to well implement the strategic common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries and build an even closer community with a shared future in the new era. China firmly supports Pakistan in maintaining security and stability as well as achieving development and revitalization, and stands ready to provide assistance within its ability to help Pakistan overcome temporary difficulties.

Bilawal expressed satisfaction over the development of Pakistan-China relations. He stressed that China is Pakistan's all-weather friend. An important pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy is to strengthen relations with China and promote the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan will resolutely combat terrorism and spare no effort in protecting the safety of Chinese enterprises and nationals in Pakistan.

The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening mutual support under the current international situation. Wang Yi noted that the deviation of the Chinese civilian unmanned airship from its planned course and its subsequent entry into US airspace were due to force majeure, and this is an isolated and unexpected accident that should have been handled in a calm, rational and professional manner. However, the US side has ignored the basic facts and overacted by abusing military force and hyping up the event, and this almost hysterical act of the US has shown that its prejudice and ignorance towards China has reached a preposterous level. China demands that the US show sincerity in solving the problem and stop doing such absurd things out of domestic political needs.