Xi calls for boosting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to be pushed forward. 

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14 and 15. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping(R) meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif(L) in Beijing, May 13, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The supplementary projects in and around Pakistan's Gwadar Port should be steadily advanced and the study on the construction of industrial parks along the corridor facilitated, Xi said.

Xi stressed that the long-term planning of the corridor should be completed as soon as possible and cooperation programs covering energy, transportation infrastructure and people's livelihoods should be promoted and carried out. 

China-Pakistan relations remain a priority for China and it is willing to enrich the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with Pakistan, the president said.

The two sides should not only continue high-level exchanges, but increase interactions between governments, legislative bodies and political parties, Xi said.

He said the two countries should strengthen cooperation on areas including anti-terrorism and security, and enhance coordination on major international and regional affairs.

China wants to deepen cooperation with Pakistan under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Xi added.

Sharif said the traditional friendship between Pakistan and China is solid, stressing that it is a national consensus to deepen ties with China and participate in cooperation on the Belt and Road construction. 

Pakistan is willing to work with China in actively implementing various projects related to the corridor and steadily pushing forward the cooperation on energy and infrastructure construction, including the Gwadar Port program, he said.

Sharif said Pakistan will continue its coordination and cooperation with China under such multilateral frameworks as the United Nations and the SCO, to contribute to stability and development in the region and beyond. 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with his Pakistani counterpart on Saturday, saying that China is willing to work with Pakistan in translating mutual political trust into more fruits of mutually beneficial cooperation. 

Citing positive results achieved in the cooperation on the corridor, Li said both sides should efficiently dovetail their development strategies, advance major transportation and energy projects as scheduled, enhance cooperation on industrial capacity, and boost a balanced development of trade. 

Li expressed the hope that Pakistan will intensify its efforts in protecting the safety of Chinese personnel in the nation, and ensure the security of related projects. 

Sharif said that the country will accelerate the construction of the corridor and take measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and enterprises.

Pakistan hoped that bilateral industrial and trade cooperation will be strengthened, and will work to facilitate Chinese enterprises' investment in the nation, he said. 

After their meeting, Li and Sharif witnessed the signing of documents related to cooperation on economy and technology.