ISLAMABAD: Wang Yang, vice-premier of the State Council of People’s Republic of China, called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the PM’s House on Sunday. Abbasi, while warmly welcoming Yang, said that Pakistan and China are all weather friends and strategic partners. Pak-China bilateral ties are time tested; “our relationship has attained new heights after the CPEC that is a game changer for the region and beyond,” he stated. Both the leaders held comprehensive discussions on all issues of bilateral, regional and international interest. They expressed satisfaction at the progress in implementation of CPEC projects. Yang congratulated the PM on Pakistan’s 70th anniversary celebrations and stressed that his visit demonstrated the close strategic relations between the “iron brothers”, Pakistan and China, and China’s strong support for Pakistan. He thanked Pakistan for its consistent support for issues of core importance to China. Published in Daily Times, August 14th 2017.