Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China Foreign Ministers held talks on Saturday and agreed to strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership between the two states.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan. He had a one-on-one meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office.

According to FO spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal, delegation-level talks between the two delegations led by the two foreign ministers were also held.

“Chinese State Councillor Yi underscored Beijing’s firm support to Pakistan’s socio-economic progress and development,” the FO spokesperson stated.

Also read Chinese FM due today in Pakistan

Yi also forwarded an invitation to the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to be the guest of honour at the International Import Expo in China.

“China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), economic cooperation, cultural and educational exchanges, and regional situation were discussed during the meeting,” the spokesperson further added.

The Chinese foreign minister arrived in Pakistan on Friday.

Pakistan will take Chinese foreign minister into confidence over talks with the US delegation. The regional security situation, as well as the progress on development projects being executed as part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), will be discussed during the visit.

Chinese foreign minister will call on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday and deliver greetings to him from Chinese President Xi Jinping over assuming the office of the prime minister of Pakistan.

Also read Evaluating China’s commitment to Pakistan

The Chinese top diplomat will also meet military leadership during the visit, wherein security and defense cooperation between the two countries will be discussed.

Dr. Faisal termed the visit by Chinese foreign minister to Pakistan a ‘very positive’ development, saying that since the formation of the PTI government, visits by Iranian, US and Chinese foreign ministers signify the importance Pakistan enjoys in the region and in the world.

The Chinese state councilor is visiting Pakistan upon the invitation of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Thursday.