Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday urged closer ties between China and Pakistan amid already close friendship. China and Pakistan need to step up in forging a closer community with a shared future more than ever, he said. 

Wang made the remarks via a video link at the opening ceremony of a seminar commemorating 70 years since China and Pakistan established diplomatic relations. 

Noting China and Pakistan have forged ahead over the past 70 years sharing weal and woe, Wang said the two countries have fostered a unique "iron-clad friendship" with rock-firm mutual political trust. He called their bilateral ties a most valuable strategic asset. 

The Chinese diplomat called for strengthening strategic communication, especially top-level official dialogues for on-time strategic guidance for the development of bilateral ties.

Wang also urged the two sides to work together to defeat COVID-19, earnestly advance the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), jointly safeguard regional peace, and practice real multilateralism.

He said China sincerely hopes Pakistan will enjoy unity, stability and development, and be stronger.

No matter how the international landscape shifts, China will always stand side by side with Pakistan and staunchly support it in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and in blazing a development path suited to Pakistan's national realities to realize the grand vision of a "new Pakistan," Wang added.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also addressed the seminar, saying that the Pakistani side is willing to deepen cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative and push high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Qureshi also wished continued cooperation in activities marking the 70th anniversary celebrations, calling for the two sides to safeguard regional and world peace and stability.

The seminar was held in Islamabad and hosted by the Pakistan-China Institute, a Pakistani think tank.

(With input from Xinhua)