Pakistan, China renew pledge for CPEC, its expansion.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan yesterday said that IslamAabad and Beijing were committed to the China-Pakistan Economic CorriAdor and its expansion.

Speaking at a weekly news briefAing here, Foreign Office spokesperAson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that CPEC was a sterling symbol of PakiAstan-China strategic partnership.

'CPEC is a bilateral project between our two countries, but it is also a projAect for regional connectivity. You are also aware that Pakistan and China have agreed in the past to extend CPEC to Afghanistan. Proposals for participaAtion of third parties including private entities to join CPEC projects proposAals remain under consideration of the two sides. When we have a final outcome we will make an announceAment,' she said. The spokesperson said Foreign Secretary Dr Asad MaAjeed Khan visited China last week and called on China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. He also held meetings with Vice Foreign MinAister Sun Weidong and with ChairAman CIDCA Lou Zhaouhui, she added.

On 18 March, she said, Dr Asad MaAjeed Khan and Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong co-chaired the Third Round of Pakistan-China Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC).

'The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, and agreed to expand and reinforce poAlitical and security cooperation, biAlateral trade, economic and finanAcial cooperation, cultural exchanges, tourism, and people-to-people ties. It was also agreed that Pakistan and China will enhance high level engageAments and dialogue mechanisms and make the channels of communication even more robust,' she elaborated.

The two sides, she said, reaffirmed their commitment to CPEC and agreed to remain engaged in expansion of CPEC including on participation of third parties to enhance regional conAnectivity and cooperation. Pakistan and China will further strengthen diaAlogue and cooperation in multilateral platforms. She said Pakistan and ChiAna are all-weather strategic...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT