BEIJING: China on Tuesday termed its relations with Pakistan as ever-growing, stating that the high-level visits between the two sides always broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation in all fields of common interest.
When asked to comment on the forthcoming visit to China by a high-level dignitary (prime minister of Pakistan), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that there are important high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China.
“Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic partners. In recent years, relations between the two countries have always been operating at a high level,” he said.
He said that since the establishment of the new Pakistani government, Pakistan-China relations have continued to maintain a good momentum of development. Everyone also noticed that President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang sent congratulatory messages to the new president and prime minister of Pakistan, he added.
He also said that the two prime ministers also made telephonic conversation and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pakistan on the occasion of the establishment of the new government. The construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and pragmatic cooperation in various fields has continued to advance, he added.
He further said that the cultural exchanges between the two countries have become closer. The two countries have also maintained good coordination and cooperation on important international and regional issues, he added.
“It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, Pakistan-China relations will continue to make new progress,” he added.
Responding to another question at the regular news briefing, the spokesman said, “China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and its adjacent waters.
“Like any other country in the world, China’s peaceful construction activities on its own territory, including the deployment of necessary defense facilities, are the exercise of the right to self-insurance and self-defence of sovereign states under international law. This has nothing to do with ‘militarisation’,” he said.
“There is no problem with navigation and overflight freedom in the South China Sea. In recent years, the United States has been carrying the so-called “sail and freedom of flying” banner, frequently sending warships to the South China Sea to the South China Sea, and even breaking into the territorial waters of China’s Xisha Islands. This is creating tension and ‘militarisation’,” he added.
“We urge the US to stop picking up troubles, create tensions, respect regional countries’ efforts to resolve problems through negotiations and consultations, safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, stop acts that harm China’s sovereignty and security interests, and become builders of peace and stability in the South China Sea, not destroyers,” he concluded.
