Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Beijing on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022, during which the two leaders decided to enhance their strategic alliance and multilateral cooperation in several areas, including the CPEC.
They “exchanged views on regional and international developments and broad-based cooperation in economy and investment.” They also expressed their willingness to deepen the all-weather strategic cooperation alliance between the countries.
President Xi stated that China and Pakistan should push the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) more effectively and expedite the infrastructure development for the Gwadar Sea Port.
China, according to Xi, will continue to help Pakistan’s efforts to realize its potential as a geo-economic hub and expand its economy sustainably. In addition, he announced a new aid package worth RMB 500 million was also announced for Pakistan’s post-flood relief and rehabilitation activities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz strongly reiterated the significance of bilateral friendship for regional peace and stability as well as the special historical ties between the two countries. He said that Pakistan drew inspiration from China’s socio-economic development and admired President Xi’s leadership for China’s prosperity and his vision for developing the bilateral relationships. He also expressed his gratitude for China’s constant support for Pakistan’s relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts following the destruction brought on by the nation’s catastrophic floods.
Furthermore, the two leaders reached an understanding that, as a project of strategic importance, both parties will work together to launch ML-1 as an early harvest project inside the CPEC framework. They agreed to complete all the documentation required for the early opening of the Karachi Circular Railway and acknowledged the need for a public transportation project in Karachi. Several agreements covering a wide range of bilateral cooperation were signed during the visit.
Regarding important regional concerns, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the current situation in IIOJK and Afghanistan. They agreed that the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan will strengthen regional connectivity projects and underlined that a peaceful and secure Afghanistan would enhance regional security and economic growth.
Both presidents discussed the rapidly shifting international environment and reaffirmed their shared conviction that cooperation and communication based on equality and mutual benefit are crucial for preserving world peace and prosperity as the meeting came to a close. They concurred that unequivocal cooperation between states was necessary to confront contemporary concerns such as climate change, health pandemics, and expanding inequality to realize the objectives and tenets of the UN Charter.
