BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Beijing’s “unbreakable” friendship with Pakistan as he met on Monday visiting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking to deepen their “all-weather” partnership.
Pakistan is among an exclusive group of countries China regards as an “all-weather strategic partner”, with ties featuring close economic, trade and security cooperation.
Greeting Sharif at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Xi called the Pakistani leader an “old friend” and said the two countries had “understood, trusted and supported each other” over decades, forging an “unbreakable traditional friendship.”
“No matter how the international situation changes, China always prioritizes the development of China-Pakistan relations in its neighborhood diplomacy,” Xi said.
Beijing was willing to work with Islamabad to build a more close-knit China-Pakistan community with a shared future and achieve more in their “all-weather” cooperation, Xi added.
Sharif, in turn, called China and Pakistan two “iron brother” countries with a relationship that is “next to none.”
The visit comes as Pakistan continues to play a leading role in mediating talks aimed at ending the US-Israel war on Iran.
Pakistan has emerged as a central mediator between the United States and Iran, hosting face-to-face talks last month that failed to yield a lasting agreement.
China, playing a quieter role, has said it will work with Pakistan to “make positive contributions to the early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East”.
Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, who has been at the center of mediating talks, is accompanying Sharif.
Speaking to Chinese leaders in Beijing alongside Munir, Sharif said, “The world is passing through a critical moment.”
“Things are moving in the right direction. I would like to thank China’s support to promote peace,” he added.
Weeks into Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts, Washington has reported progress in negotiations with Tehran.
“I know that you have just returned from Iran and made positive efforts for the current peace. We still appreciate the constructive role played by Pakistan,” Xi said.
For Pakistan, engaging China in its mediation efforts is important given Beijing’s close ties withTehran.
Source: Saudi Gazette