Strengthening the Strategic Partnership Between China and Pakistan
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership and economic cooperation during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. This meeting emphasized the strong friendship between the two nations, with Xi reiterating China’s support for Pakistan, especially regarding the preservation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and its fight against terrorism.
Zardari, who is on a five-day state visit to Beijing, expressed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting China in face of global challenges. The two leaders also agreed to expedite the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key initiative of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at connecting China to the Gwadar port in Pakistan over a distance of 3,000 kilometers.
The CPEC aims to secure China’s energy imports while modernizing Pakistan’s infrastructure and boosting its economy. Following their discussions, several bilateral cooperation agreements were signed, covering areas such as trade, science, technology, and media.
China is currently Pakistan’s main trading partner, being its largest source of imports and the second-largest destination for exports since the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
