China, Pakistan to deepen strategic cooperation: Chinese CG

KARACHI:

Consul General of People’s Republic of China in Karachi, Yang Yundong has said that all-weather strategic cooperation between Pakistan and China has continued to deepen under the joint guidance and promotion of President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders.

Speaking at the media briefing at the consulate, organised to mark this year the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Yundong said, iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China is everlasting and ever-refreshing. The Pakistan-China relationship is of strategic significance. Any attempt to disrupt or undermine Pakistan-China cooperation is bound to fail.

He said, the two sides will continuously strengthen practical cooperation across various fields, jointly upgrade the CPEC and accelerate the construction of major projects in railways, highways, and ports. The two sides are ready to build Karachi-Hyderabad section in line with the modality of “implementing in a phased manner.” The two sides will work together to refine and optimise the construction plan of Karachi-Hyderabad section and formulate financing and implementation plans that are feasible and sustainable at the earliest.

The two sides will speed up the development of the auxiliary infrastructure of the Gwadar Port, steadily attract more cargo shipments to the port, find a solution to inadequate water and power supply at an early date, accelerate the development of the port’s industrial zone, and solidly enhance connectivity between the port and other parts of Pakistan. The New Gwadar International Airport project aided by China has been completed.

Yundong said, China firmly supports Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and asks Pakistan to take targeted security measures to comprehensively safeguard the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, so as to create a safe and secure environment for the cooperation between the two countries. About China’s achievement and remarkable social and economic development, the consul general said, China maintained an average annual economic growth rate of 8.9% for 45 consecutive years, increasing its economic scale by 47 times.