China, Pakistan to further advance Economic Corridor project

China and Pakistan agreed to further deepen economic cooperation and advance the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project during talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Friday. 

The two sides signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in such fields as transport, industry, agriculture, market regulation, livelihoods, capacity-building, and film and television.

Li said that China firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in achieving unity, stability, security and prosperity.

China is willing to work with Pakistan to enhance the synergy of their development strategies, focus on upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, advance key projects, expand trade and investment cooperation to promote common development, and deepen cooperation on industry, agriculture, aerospace, information technology, ecology and environmental protection, said Li.

He noted that China is willing to import more quality products from Pakistan and supports competent Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan.

China will continue to support Pakistan in improving its people's livelihoods and its post-disaster reconstruction, and will carry out exchanges and cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of culture, tourism, local governments and think tanks, so that the China-Pakistan friendship will enjoy greater support among the people, Li said.

China is willing to strengthen bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism and security cooperation with Pakistan, and will support Pakistan in strengthening its counterterrorism capacity-building. It is hoped that Pakistan will continue to resolutely ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, he added.

Shehbaz expressed gratitude to China's contributions to Pakistan's economic and social development. He said Pakistan firmly supports China's position on issues related to Taiwan, Xizang, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea, and supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Shehbaz said.

The prime minister noted that Pakistan is willing to work with China to advance the construction of the CPEC under the framework of the Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen exchange and cooperation in such fields as the economy, trade, investment, agriculture and culture, hoping for more fruitful results from the all-weather, strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China, and from the construction of a Pakistan-China community with a shared future.

Expressing grief over the killing of the Chinese citizens in a terrorist attack at the Dasu Hydropower Station, Shehbaz said Pakistan will use all its strength to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan, and resolutely defeat any attempt that undermines the Pakistan-China friendship.

(With input from Xinhua)