ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and China have agreed to build an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The two sides reached the understanding at Fifth Round of Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue co-chaired by Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi in Beijing.
The two sides will jointly promote the deepening and practical implementation of China’s eight actions to support high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.
“We will jointly build the growth corridor, the livelihood corridor, the innovation corridor, the green corridor and the opening corridor, and synergize with Pakistan’s development plans and priorities to build an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan economic corridor,” read the joint press release.
During the Strategic Dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and bilateral cooperation in strategic, economic, political, defense and security, trade, investment, business, people-to-people and cultural fields, and discussed international and regional issues of common concern.
The two sides agreed to jointly take measures to safeguard common interests, enhance the well-being of the two peoples and jointly promote regional peace, development and prosperity.
They reaffirmed that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, the “iron-clad” friendship between the two countries is solid as a rock, and the strategic mutual trust between the two countries is unbreakable. The sound and robust development of China-Pakistan relations is of great strategic significance to regional peace, development and stability.
The two sides will implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, intensify exchanges at all levels, deepen the exchange of experience in governance, further strengthen win-win cooperation in various fields, and accelerate the construction of a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future in the new era.
Pakistan and China officials reaffirmed their firm support for each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests.
The Pakistani side reiterated that it firmly adheres to the one-China principle and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to realize national reunification, and opposes any form of “Taiwan independence.”
“Pakistan firmly supports China on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea,” said the press release.
The Chinese side reiterated its support for Pakistan in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and achieving economic prosperity, in firmly combating terrorism, and in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.
The two sides strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the convoy of Chinese personnel of the “March 26” Dasu Hydropower Project in Pakistan and stressed that any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan cooperation will never succeed.
The Pakistani side is committed to maintaining the “iron core” friendship with China, will spare no effort to find the real culprits and bring them to justice, take more practical and effective security measures, and make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.
The Chinese side recognizes the contributions and sacrifices made by the Pakistani side in combating terrorism over the years.
The two sides reaffirmed their “zero tolerance” attitude in combating all forms of terrorism and agreed to further strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation in an all-round way. The two sides called on the international community to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and resolutely oppose the adoption of “double standards” on the issue of counter-terrorism.
They will jointly promote the deepening and practical implementation of China’s eight actions to support high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.
The two sides agreed to speed up major connectivity projects such as the upgrading and renovation of Main Railway Line 1, Gwadar Port and the second phase of the Karakoram Highway, and strengthen cooperation in agriculture, industrial parks, mining and information technology in light of local conditions to enhance Pakistan’s capacity for sustainable development.
They also agreed that the Hongqilaf Highway Port plays an important role in promoting economic and trade exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between China and Pakistan, and agreed to speed up the work of opening the Hongqilaf Port all year round.
Both sides discussed existing cooperation in the field of energy and agreed to further strengthen such cooperation. They agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the financial and banking sectors of the two countries, including supporting each other on regional and international platforms.
The Pakistani side thanked China for its financial support and timely assistance when Pakistan faced natural disasters such as floods.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the expanding space cooperation between the two countries and agreed to further deepen cooperation on this basis and explore space in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner.
They stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia, the need to resolve all outstanding disputes, and opposed any unilateral actions.
Pakistan briefed China on the latest development of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. China reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left over from history and should be properly resolved through peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and relevant bilateral agreements.
The two sides reaffirmed their readiness to cooperate actively within the framework of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.
“Pakistan highly commends China’s efforts to safeguard the sustainable development rights and interests of developing countries.”
Pakistan and China expressed satisfaction with the cooperation in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, support for multilateralism and free trade, and oppose “coterie” and camp confrontation.
They agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on the Afghan issue and called on the international community to make joint efforts to help Afghanistan properly cope with the humanitarian situation.
“We encourage Afghanistan to pursue inclusive governance, moderate governance, good-neighborliness, firm fight against terrorism, including not allowing the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities, and play a positive and constructive role in Afghanistan’s stable development and integration into the international community.”
The two sides reiterated that the fundamental solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council are binding and should be effectively implemented, leading to an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire.
The international community should increase its input to the question of Palestine with a greater sense of urgency and make greater efforts to promote the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel so as to achieve lasting peace.
The two sides reaffirmed that China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers, and will carry forward the “iron core” friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen strategic coordination, and constantly set new goals and create new prospects for the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
