China-Pakistan relations "as solid as a rock, as steadfast as a mountain"

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on May 31 that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China from June 4-8 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting on May 31 to prepare for his upcoming trip to China. (Source: PID)

Xinhua News Agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning at a press conference as saying that this would be Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's first visit to China since Pakistan's new government was formed this year.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet with host President Xi Jinping, his counterpart Li Qiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (Speaker of Parliament) Zhao Leji, and is expected to visit Guangdong and Shaanxi provinces.

Affirming that China and Pakistan are "strategic partners and loyal friends," Mao Ning emphasized that the friendship between the two countries "has been tested over time and is as solid as rock, as firm as a mountain."

According to her, China and Pakistan have conducted close high-level exchanges in recent years. Substantive bilateral cooperation has progressed steadily and achieved positive results in building a high-quality China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Beijing hopes to cooperate with Islamabad to advance the bilateral strategic partnership and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Meanwhile, the Dawn newspaper quoted Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch as saying that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming visit is "an expression of the strong friendship between China and Pakistan, characterized by high-level exchanges and dialogue."

According to Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, “the two sides will hold discussions to further strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership under all circumstances; upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, promote trade and investment; enhance cooperation in security, defense, energy, space, science and technology and education; and promote cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, thereby setting a future trajectory for Pakistan-China friendship.”

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/quan-he-trung-quoc-pakistan-vung-chac-nhu-da-vung-vang-nhu-nui-273350.html