Xi Stresses Vital Role of China-Pakistan Ties in Regional Stability

2025-09-02 05:21:21

(MENAFN) Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized on Tuesday the significance of deepening bilateral ties with Pakistan to uphold regional peace and stability.

Speaking during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently visiting Beijing, Xi stressed that both nations should accelerate the development of a more integrated, future-focused partnership that benefits their peoples and sets a model for the broader region. This statement was reported by a Chinese news agency.

"China stands ready to work with Pakistan to build upgraded versions of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement," Xi said, adding that Pakistan must take decisive steps to ensure the security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions within its borders.

Pakistan, in a statement from Sharif’s office, confirmed that President Xi had pledged continued support to Islamabad across various sectors, especially as both countries prepare to launch the second phase of the multi-billion-dollar CPEC initiative.

The two leaders also discussed pressing global and regional developments and agreed to sustain their close collaboration on these fronts.

Sharif, in response, expressed gratitude for China’s "unflinching" backing of Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and socio-economic development. He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to working alongside Beijing to successfully implement the next phase of CPEC, which will include five new corridors.

Since formalizing diplomatic relations in 1950, China and Pakistan have characterized their alliance as an "all-weather strategic cooperative partnership." China has become Pakistan's largest arms supplier, and bilateral trade reached over $23 billion in 2024.

At the heart of this robust partnership is CPEC, a $62 billion infrastructure project linking China's Xinjiang province to Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan.

Sharif arrived in Beijing after attending the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, where he will participate in a military parade on Wednesday alongside leaders from 26 other nations.

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