Charge d’ Affaires of China Pang Chunxue called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and emphasised that Pakistan was viewed as a strong and committed friend of China and enjoyed great respect and admiration there.
During the courtesy call, the Chinese charge d’ affaires conveyed warm felicitations and good wishes of the Chinese government and leadership on the assumption of office by the prime minister.
The charge d’ affairs also lauded the prime minister’s contribution to promoting the China-Pakistan Economic Cooperation during the years that he was Chief Minister of the Punjab province.
Conveying his warm greetings and gratitude to the Chinese leadership, the prime minister recalled his many visits to China, when he also met with President Xi Jinping who had taken a personal interest in promoting relations with Pakistan.
The prime minister appreciated China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s continued progress as the flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative and its importance for the economic development and prosperity of Pakistan.
He affirmed his government’s resolve to speed up to high-quality development of CPEC projects and make it a symbol of China-Pakistan friendship and close partnership.
He underlined the importance of enhanced investment from China in industrialization, agriculture, and digital technologies.
Recalling his close cooperation with China as Chief Minister of Punjab, the prime minister reaffirmed the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s policy and factor for regional peace and stability.
He underscored that friendship with China resided in the hearts of the people of Pakistan and China was Pakistan’s strongest friend and closest partner.
The prime minister affirmed his government’s commitment to further deepening the win-win economic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the United States has said that it values its long-standing cooperation with Pakistan.
During a media briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said: “We value our long-standing cooperation with Pakistan and have always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan critical to US interests. That remains unchanged regardless of who the leadership is.”
In response to questions about political development in Pakistan, Psaki refrained from responding to questions on the possibility of a phone call between President Joe Biden and Sharif.
“I don’t have a prediction of a call at this point in time,” she said.
“Obviously, those are assessments made day by day and especially after new leaders are elected. Of course, we have a long, strong and abiding relationship with Pakistan, an important security relationship and that will continue under new leaders,” Psaki said.
President Biden, who was inaugurated in January 2021, did not call former prime minister Khan during his tenure as prime minister.
