Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Sunday discussed the evolving situation in the region and beyond, particularly the grave humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
The foreign minister held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart. The foreign minister is accompanying the Prime Minister on a visit to China to attend the 24th Olympic Winter games.
About Afghanistan, both sides appreciated the important role played by the meeting of the 10 neighbouring countries in evolving regional consensus and looked forwarded to its third meeting to be held in China. It was agreed to maintain closer coordination to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and regional connectivity, a press release said.
The foreign minister underlined that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meetings with the Chinese leadership would provide fresh momentum to the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, add new avenues to practical cooperation, spur high quality development of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) including industrial development, and develop greater synergies between the visions of geo-economics and the Global Development Initiative.
Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed State Councilor Wang on the gross human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and systemic assaults on the freedoms of minorities in India. Recalling their last meeting in Chengdu for the 3rd round of Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue, the foreign minister appreciated the measures taken by the two sides to strengthen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China. He thanked his counterpart for China’s firm support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national development, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support to China on all issues of its core interest.
Qureshi also congratulated his Chinese counterpart on the successful hosting of the Winter Olympics and conveyed his best wishes on the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday inaugurated a portal to facilitate the Pakistani students and professionals. During the launching ceremony, Ambassador of Pakistan to China Moeen-ul-Haque also accompanied the foreign minister, a press release said.
The foreign minister, on the occasion, said that the portal would enhance technical linkages between the Pakistani students and the Chinese experts and serve as a vital platform between them.
The portal would provide support with regard to the latest innovative research and inventions, Qureshi said, adding that the portal would also highlight the contributions of Pakistani students and professionals in the relevant fields. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan held very comprehensive meetings with the Chinese leadership and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties. During these high-level meetings, leadership of the two countries discussed future prospects of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC), economic integration, and the next phase of CPEC. The Foreign Minister was talking to media after his return from China. Foreign Minister Qureshi was a part of the high-level delegation led by Prime Minister Imran Khan that visited China to attend the Beijing Winter Olympic games on the special invitation of the Chinese leadership.
The Foreign Minister said “Without any hesitation, I want to say that these meetings were held extensively and with much clarity.” Over Afghanistan, both the countries shared unanimous opinion. Pakistan’s contributions towards Afghan humanitarian assistance were acknowledged by China, he said, adding, the Chinese leadership viewed the holding of extraordinary meeting of OIC on Afghanistan as a successful one.
The Foreign Minister informed that during his meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, they agreed to meet again in Beijing in March. He said that the immediate neighbours of Afghanistan would be invited to a meeting including Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan etc. He said that Pakistan, China and Afghanistan were members of a trilateral forum which would be further strengthened for coordination over Afghanistan.
Referring to India, the Foreign Minister said that they were concerned over treatment of minorities, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits as their human rights were being trampled. China and Pakistan shared same opinion and there was no ambiguity over the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) issue, he maintained.
During the delegation level talks, and meeting with premier Li, they discussed ways and means to move on the economic front, enhance market access, bridge the trade imbalance and increase Chinese investment in different areas, he told.
Qureshi said that they had identified areas where the Chinese companies could get benefits through investment. “These are the win-win projects”, and they had conveyed such economic prospects to the Chinese companies through a well-prepared booklet, he added. The Prime Minister, he said, held meetings with about twenty prominent state and private companies in which their authorities had identified interests over investment in key areas of Pakistan. The Prime Minister also shared Pakistan’s perspective over a host of issues during his interaction with the renowned think tanks in China, he added.
