Pakistan, China hold maritime cooperation dialogue

ISLAMABAD, February 2: Pakistan and China held the second Maritime Cooperation Dialogue here on Tuesday and agreed to enhance cooperation in the Maritime domain between the two countries, officials said.The Pakistan delegation was led by Syed Zulfiqar Gardezi, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) while the Chinese side was headed by Kong Xuanyou, Assistant Minister (Asia and Consular Affairs), the Foreign Ministry said.
Representatives from various government departments of two sides also attended the Dialogue and reviewed overall Maritime situation in the region, security of Sea Lines of Communication, anti-piracy cooperation, rescue and relief operations, maritime science and technology cooperation and exchanges between the two navies.Later, Assistant Minister Kong called on the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz and discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues.The Adviser appreciated the deep rooted friendship that exists between the two countries. Lauding the Chinese initiative of ‘One Belt – One Road’, the Adviser stressed need for greater Maritime cooperation between the two countries especially as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was its flagship.Both sides also expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved since the first round of Dialogue held in Beijing on 8 July 2014.-DNA