HANGZHOU: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the friendship between Pakistan and China had stood test of times and was further strengthening for the benefit of their people and the entire region. In a meeting with Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China Che Jun here, the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral relations between Pakistan and China. Nawaz said that Pakistan and China are iron brothers and would continue to extend cooperation at all international forums. He said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative, adding that the two countries were standing together for the prosperity and well being of their people. Che Jun, Secretary of the Committee of CPC of Zhejiang welcomed the prime minister and said that Pakistan and China had their relations based on history and culture and said both the nations had deep-rooted connections which had transformed in people-to-people relationship. He apprised the prime minister about the economic stability of Zhejiang province, which he said was an economic hub and historically was part of the Silk Route. Che Jun said that the business community in Pakistan and the Chinese province of Zhejiang had strong links and stressed that trade cooperation must be enhanced. He expressed confidence that the visit of Nawaz to China and to Zhejiang province would strengthen trade ties between the two countries.