Pak, China urge joint global efforts to fight terrorism

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi have urged the regional countries and international community to fight terrorism together, while terming terrorism the “common enemy of humanity”.

“The two sides called on the regional countries and the international community to form synergy and fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” said a joint statement issued by Pakistan and China on Sunday at the conclusion of Foreign Minister Bilawal’s two-day official visit to China.

Pakistan and China also reaffirmed their strong support for each other’s core interests and major concerns and commitment to deepening strategic communication including at the highest political level and practical cooperation.

They also agreed to build an even stronger China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Foreign Minister Bilawal visited Guangzhou on May 21-22 at the invitation of State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

It was his first official bilateral visit after assuming the office of foreign minister.

The visit coincided with the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan.

During the visit, the state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Bilawal held in-depth discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of shared interest.

The talks were conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere, in line with the finest tradition of mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.

The joint statement said the two sides agreed that amidst profound regional and international changes, the importance of China-Pakistan strategic relations had assumed even greater significance.

“As All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, China and Pakistan share ironclad mutual trust and friendship, which is a source of peace, stability, and prosperity for the region and beyond,” the statement added.

The two sides noted with satisfaction the steady growth of economic cooperation between China and Pakistan.

In this context, they agreed that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had effectively improved Pakistan’s infrastructure and boosted its socio-economic development.

“Both sides expressed firm resolve to synergising development strategies, pushing forward all CPEC projects in a safe, smooth, and high-quality manner, promoting cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, investment, industry, agriculture, health, and science and technology, contributing to the peoples’ well-being and delivering greater benefits to local communities,” the statement added.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum of bilateral defence cooperation and exchanges.

They underlined that China-Pakistan defence cooperation was in fact a factor of peace and stability in the region.

The two sides expressed their determination not to allow anyone to damage China-Pakistan ironclad brotherhood.

They once again strongly condemned the terrorist attack at Karachi University’s Confucius Institute.

Pakistan reiterated that efforts would be made to speed up investigation, hunt down the culprits, and bring them to justice.

Pakistan briefed the Chinese side on its efforts to ensure the safety of all Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in the country.

China appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to the safety and security of Chinese nationals.

They noted that, based on the principles of win-win cooperation and shared benefits, Belt and Road cooperation had become an open and inclusive platform for international cooperation and was widely welcomed as a global public good.