China’s new ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong called on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Thursday.
The meeting focused on the important Pak-China strategic relationship. The ongoing pace of projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also came under discussion.
Ambassador Nong Rong had presented his credentials to President Dr Arif Alvi on November 3.
China admires Pakistan`s positive role towards CPEC
A spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin said his country highly applauds Pakistan's positive role towards China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Commenting on recent positive remarks of Pakistan's Information Minister, he said the CPEC is an important pilot BRI project and a flagship for China-Pakistan bilateral cooperation.
"Since its building started more than seven years ago, major progress has been achieved and a lot of projects have been launched or completed, bringing over $25 billion of direct investment to Pakistan.
Last month, the Orange Line, an early harvest project under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, was inaugurated in Lahore, introducing an era of metro train service for Pakistan.
The completed projects have greatly improved the country's transport infrastructure and power supply, created more than 70,000 local jobs, contributed 1 to 2 percent to Pakistan's GDP growth every year, and significantly boosted its socio-economic development and people's wellbeing.
The CPEC contributes to not only economic and social development in China and Pakistan, but also regional connectivity and common development. Let's look at Gwadar Port.
Nearly 20,000 tonnes of commodities such as wheat, sugar and fertilizer have been transferred via the port to Afghanistan since the first half of the year, creating almost 1,000 jobs in this process.
China firmly supports the building of CPEC. We will continue working with Pakistan to implement our leaders' consensus, further focusing on cooperation in areas like social welfare, industries and agriculture while advancing existing projects, and forging the CPEC into a demonstration program for quality BRI cooperation that brings more benefits to people in China, Pakistan and the whole region.
To a question relating to Kashmir issue, Wang Wenbin said, China's position on the issue of Kashmir has been consistent and clear. It is an issue left over from history between India and Pakistan, which should be resolved properly and peacefully in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.
About Belt and Road cooperation, the spokesperson added: "Pursuing the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the BRI cooperation proactively endorses multilateralism. BRI partners established multilateral cooperation mechanisms in multiple areas.
Despite the negative impact on international exchanges caused by COVID-19 this year, BRI partners held over 20 international conferences via the Internet or in person for multilateral cooperation.
In June this year, the High-Level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation was held. Guests attending the conference include ministers from 25 countries, the WHO Director-General and the UNDP Administrator.
Second, the Belt and Road inter-bank regular cooperation mechanism made a proposal to support China and other countries in their fight against COVID-19, calling for greater international solidarity and cooperation.