Xi meets Pakistani prime minister

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01:50

Chinese President Xi Jinping attached great importance to the bilateral ties between China and Pakistan, saying China will prioritize the partnership in its foreign policy.

He made the remarks while meeting with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing on Friday.

Xi noted that the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries is a special relationship formed and developed through mutual support and close cooperation.

No matter what changes take place on the international and domestic landscapes, China-Pakistan ties will remain lively and continue developing, the Chinese president emphasized.

During the talks, Xi vowed to deepen strategic communication and called for more meetings between high-level officials from both sides. He also said the two countries should have more pragmatic cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment, people-to-people exchanges and anti-terrorism.

Xi also expressed hope that the current achievement from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could be consolidated, so as to benefit the industrial parks along the route and improve people's livelihood.

The Pakistani prime minister said he hopes to learn from China's experience on development, poverty alleviation and anti-corruption.

He also promised to continue strengthening the bilateral relationship, advance the construction of the CPEC to boost the social and economic development of Pakistan.

A general view of the CPEC's key project, Gwadar port, in Gwadar, Pakistan, October 4, 2017. /VCG Photo

This is Khan's first official visit to China since he became Pakistan's new prime minister about three months ago.

The cricketer-turned-politician founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 1996, and after more than 20 years, the party won the general elections in July this year. Khan assumed the office of the prime minister in August.