China, Pakistan agree to ‘unswervingly safeguard’ bilateral ties

PTI

ISLAMABAD/BEIJING, May 26: Pakistan and China have agreed to “unswervingly safeguard” and develop their bilateral relations by working closely to build a shared future, according to a joint statement issued on Tuesday.

The statement was issued at the end of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China from May 23-26 at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang.

During his visit, the two sides signed a number of cooperation documents in various fields.

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li separately held talks with PM Shehbaz, and the two sides reached a new broad consensus on further deepening the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Shehbaz also attended the ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and visited Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Both sides reiterated opposition to any unilateral actions and reaffirmed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, the statement said.

Like in the previous joint statements after Pakistan leaders’ visits, the new statement also said that the Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

China, for its part, reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

The two sides expressed readiness to conduct transboundary water resources cooperation under the principle of equality and mutual benefit, it said, without specifying any details of collaboration as the rivers emanating from China that flow to Pakistan pass through India.

China reiterated its “unwavering support” for Pakistan in defending its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and firmly supported Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard its national security, stability, development and prosperity.

Both sides were determined to “unswervingly safeguard” and develop their bilateral relations, maintain high-level exchanges, and make significant progress, the statement said, the joint statement said. (PTI)