‘Stable Afghanistan key to regional security, economic development’

KABUL (Pajhwok): Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharife and Chinese President Xi Jinping have acknowledged that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan would promote regional security and economic development, according to a statement on Wednesday.

Both leaders agreed that Chin Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) extension to Afghanistan would strengthen regional connectivity initiatives, a statement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

The commitment comes during a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of People in Beijing on Wednesday.

The two leaders exchanged views on the rapid transformation in the international environment, which had exacerbated economic challenges for developing countries. They affirmed their shared belief in dialogue and cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit as critical for global peace and prosperity.

They agreed that contemporary challenges like climate change, health pandemics and growing inequalities needed unqualified cooperation among states, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

There was complete unanimity of views between the two leaders.

The two leaders reviewed the progress in Pakistan-China bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries that has withstood the test of time. The two nations have stood firmly side by side, in realizing their shared vision of peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s unique historic ties with China and  salience  of bilateral friendship for regional peace and stability, Prime Minister Shehbaz strongly reaffirmed that Pakistan-China friendship enjoyed complete consensus across the political spectrum in Pakistan and was a model of inter-state relations.

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