ISLAMABAD:
China and Pakistan on Thursday delivered a collective message that the current geostrategic developments and realignments are not going to have any negative fallout on their “iron-clad and all-weather strategic partnership.”
The development came during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who led his country at the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue and held a meeting with Pakistan’s civil and military leadership.
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday on the third and last leg of his three-nation trip. He earlier travelled to New Delhi and Kabul.
At a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Wang Yi termed his trip to Islamabad as the “most important one.”
His visit came against the backdrop of a host of regional and international developments with new realignments. On the one hand, there has been a dramatic turnaround in Pakistan’s relationship with the United States, while on the other hand, India’s ties with Washington hit the lowest ebb. Amid all this, there has been a reset in the relationship between China and India.
Some speculated that China’s outreach to India could be linked to Pakistan’s warming ties with Beijing’s number one adversary, the United States. Similarly, Pakistan’s closeness with the Trump administration might persuade Islamabad to maintain a distance from Beijing.
However, both Wang Yi and Dar dismissed those murmurs and declared that the Pakistan-China relationship stood the test of time and was not dependent on external factors.
The two foreign ministers took one question each from the state media representatives from Pakistan and China in what appeared to be a choreographed press conference.
When Foreign Minister Dar was asked about the Pakistan-China relationship against the backdrop of geopolitical developments and realignments, in an unusual move he replied with a carefully worded prepared response.
“The current international situation is undergoing unprecedented transformation on the economic front. We are grappling with issues like volatility in energy and commodity markets, supply chain disruptions, rise of trade and tech barriers and impacts of climate change,” he said.
“The present challenges have been exacerbated by geopolitical upheavals, terrorism and exclusionary approach by some countries thereby causing harm to regional peace and stability,” he added.
But despite all these developments, Dar added, the “cardinal pillar” of Pakistan’s foreign policy would not change, which is to establish friendly ties with all countries of the world based on convergence of interests, shared values, mutual respect and equality and for global peace and stability.
“Prevailing geopolitical milieu therefore necessitates Pakistan’s closer alignment with China which is our all-weather strategic cooperative partner and brother, trusted friend and great neighbour,” Dar stated in a clear message that Pakistan’s growing relationship with the US would not come at the expense of China.
“Our two countries enjoy commonality of views on regional and global issues. We share China’s vision for negotiated settlement of all outstanding disputes, upholding of international law and centrality of the UN system and inclusive economic globalisation for all nations of the world,” he added.
“As a trusted friend and strategic partner China is the mainstay and cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Our bilateral friendship occupies paramount importance. We would continue to maintain our strategic communication and coordination and further deepen and expand our iron-clad friendship and brotherhood as envisioned by our leadership and peoples of Pakistan,” the foreign minister further said.
The Chinese foreign minister concurred with Dar and said China and Pakistan shared a bond of trust and loyalty, standing together through thick and thin as steadfast, reliable friends.
China will continue to prioritise Pakistan in its neighbourhood diplomacy, unwaveringly supporting Pakistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, combating terrorism, achieving unity and stability, accelerating development and revitalisation, and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.
Talking about his three-nation tour, Wang Yi said this was part of China’s policy to develop close and mutually beneficial relationships with South Asian countries. “Indeed I visited three countries and Pakistan is my final stop and the most important stop,” the Chinese foreign minister said.
He said the 21st century should be the century of Asia, especially South Asia for acceleration of growth and development.
He said despite different national conditions these three countries had realised that accelerated development was the priority of all of them and was the biggest common denominators among the three countries and all countries of the region.
“A peaceful and stable and prosperous South Asia serves the common interests of all sides,” he stressed. He said China and South Asian countries are natural patterns.
He said China-Pakistan ties have stood the test of times. “China’s partnership with India and Pakistan and all other countries is not targeted at any third party and it is not affected by any third party.”
Wang stated that China is willing to collaborate with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached between leaders of two sides, prepare for high-level interactions in the second half of the year, and ensure that the construction of the China-Pakistan community with a shared future remains at the forefront of regional community-building efforts. This will benefit the peoples of both nations and serve as a model for maintaining regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity, according to the release.
Wang emphasised that China supports Pakistan in advancing its development and strengthening its national capabilities to fundamentally enhance its ability to address internal and external challenges. He called for both sides to jointly uphold the multilateral trading system and oppose unilateral hegemonic actions.
China is ready to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in areas such as information technology, cybersecurity, and people-to-people exchanges. It is also hoped that Pakistan will continue to foster a safe, efficient, and conducive business environment, effectively ensuring the security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan, according to Wang.
During the dialogue, the two sides reviewed the entire gamut of Pakistan-China relations and discussed important regional and global issues, according to a Foreign Office statement. They also exchanged in-depth views on multiple facets of bilateral cooperation, including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0, trade and economic relations, multilateral cooperation and people-to-people ties, the ministry said on Thursday.
Underlining the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China, Dar and Wang agreed that Pakistan-China friendship is significant for maintaining regional peace and stability and also indispensable for progress and prosperity of the two countries. They also agreed to continue close coordination and communication, both bilaterally and at multilateral forums, the Pakistani ministry said.
A statement issued by the PM Office said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and senior members of the cabinet during his meeting with Wang.
While welcoming the foreign minister, the prime minister expressed deep appreciation for the leadership, government and the people of China, for their steadfast support to Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national development. Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for China on its core issues, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further deepen its all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China, as envisioned by the leadership and aspired by the peoples of the two countries.
The prime minister lauded President Xi Jinping’s visionary leadership and his role in strengthening the ironclad friendship between Pakistan and China. While recalling his most cordial and productive meeting with President Xi during his visit to Beijing last year, the Prime Minister stated that he was greatly looking forward to his upcoming visit to Tianjin and Beijing, where he would participate in the SCO CHS meeting, as well as the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance and the World Anti-Fascist War. He looked forward to his meeting with President Xi, Premier Li Qiang, as well as other senior Chinese leaders, during the forthcoming visit.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s desire to deepen bilateral cooperation with China in trade, investment, ICT, agriculture, industrialisation, mines and minerals and other key sectors. He also underscored the importance of CPEC for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and its vital role in enhancing regional connectivity, while expressing satisfaction at the steady progress of CPEC Phase-II.
Thanking the prime minister for his remarks, Foreign Minister Wang emphasised that China regarded Pakistan as an ironclad friend and all-weather strategic partner. He expressed China’s desire to elevate bilateral relations with Pakistan to new heights of cooperation and collaboration. Commending Pakistan’s resolute commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, he affirmed that China would continue working jointly with Pakistan, to promote regional peace, development, and stability.
