ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has emphasised the need to further intensify cooperation on all China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, including those related to human development and livelihood, education and health, to ensure trickle down benefits to the common man. He was talking to visiting Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, who called on him along with his delegation in Islamabad on Tuesday. Kong Xuanyou conveyed the best regards of Premier Li to the prime minister. He appreciated Pakistan’s support to China on its core issues and thanked the prime minister for his letter of congratulations to the Chinese leadership at the success of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stated that China is Pakistan’s strongest ally and thanked the assistant foreign minister for the message from Premier Li. The prime minister expressed satisfaction at the close cooperation between Pakistan and China on all issues of bilateral importance including high level interactions, CPEC, trade, security and situation in the region. He noted that CPEC energy and infrastructure projects were progressing smoothly and achieving timely attainment. The prime minister stated that both China and Pakistan shared the vision of a peaceful region for development and progress of the two nations and reiterated their resolve to further strengthen Pakistan-China strategic cooperation. Meanwhile, Ambassador of Chile to Pakistan Jean-Paul Tarud also called on the prime minister, at the Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday. Ambassador Tarud conveyed greetings and well wishes of the leadership of Chile and expressed the desire to work for strengthening Pakistan-Chile relations. The prime minister welcomed the ambassador to Islamabad and noted that Pakistan and Chile enjoy cordial relations marked by cooperation at the multilateral fora. The prime minister also underscored the need for greater trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Tarud thanked the prime minister for the meeting and remarked that he had witnessed positive developments in Pakistan during his visits in recent years, especially, infrastructure development, improved security and performance of the economy. Published in Daily Times, November 22nd 2017.