Chinese, Pakistani presidents call for stronger ties

• XI pledges to promote CPEC, stronger cooperation in all areas

President Xi Jinping met President Mamnoon Hussain Wednesday in the river town of Wuzhen in east China’s Zhejiang Province, pledging to promote the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and stronger cooperation in all areas.

According to Chinese media reports, the meeting took place on the sidelines of the Second World Internet Conference, which began on Wednesday and will run until December 18.

Xi recalled his state visit to Pakistan in April, during which both countries upgraded ties to an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and agreed to form a “1+4” cooperation structure with CPEC at the centre and Gwadar Port, transportation infrastructure, energy and industrial cooperation as the four key areas to achieve win-win results.

“We are ready to make joint efforts with Pakistan to enrich the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and explore more substantial cooperation,” Xi said.

He called for high-level contact between both countries to continue. He also said that exchanges among the two governments, parliaments, parties and armed forces, should move forward.

Xi also called for more efforts to build early harvest projects of the CPEC, expand industrial cooperation, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and security cooperation, and to enhance coordination on global and regional affairs.

This year is the China-Pakistan Year of Friendly Exchanges, and next year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Mamnoon Hussain expressed gratitude for China’s support for Pakistan’s economic development and the improvements it has made to its population.

Hailing the progress of two-way cooperation in such areas as trade, infrastructure and security, he said the establishment and building of CPEC had achieved satisfactory results.

Mamnoon Hussain vowed closer cooperation with China in diversified fields and stronger coordination in global and regional affairs.