ISLAMABAD, September 10: Foreign Office on Monday said that Pakistani leadership has conveyed to Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a national priority for the government.
A declaration issued by the Foreign Office on Monday after Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Pakistan from September 7-9 stated that Pakistan remains committed to the successful implementation of CPEC and there was complete consensus on the future trajectory of CPEC between Pakistan and China.
It stated that the two sides agreed to work together towards implementation of the ongoing projects and agreed to expand CPEC to new areas of cooperation including socio-economic development; poverty alleviation, anti-corruption, agricultural cooperation and industrial development as per the needs and priorities of the government of Pakistan.
Pakistan and China had in-depth exchange of views on all issues of mutual interest and the visit provided an opportunity to the two sides to reaffirm their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, the statement added.
During his visit, Wang Yi conveyed the message of good will and support from the Chinese leadership for the new government of Pakistan. He also held delegation level talks with Foreign Minister followed by a joint press conference. The Chinese FM also called on the President, Prime Minister, National Assembly Speaker and Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
The state councillor was a special guest at the oath-taking ceremony of the President of Pakistan and was the first foreign dignitary to call on him after his inauguration on the same day. The visit had a special significance as it came right after the installation of new government and on the day of the oath-taking ceremony of the new President. From the substantive point of view it helped in further strengthening the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. -NNI
