Afghanistan’s peace remains vital to the prosperity of the region. Bilawal

Chinese FM calls for ‘political stability’ in Pakistan willingness to support Kabul, Islamabad against terrorism.

FM Bilawal stated that during the dialogue today, Pakistan and China noted “that peace and stability in Afghanistan remain vital for socio-economic development, connectivity and prosperity in the region and that they “will continue to work together with all stakeholders for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and united Afghanistan”.

He further stated that Pakistan and China support each other on “issues of core national interests” in both bilateral engagement with other countries and at multilateral forums.

He expressed great appreciation for China’s “steadfast support” on all of Pakistan’s issues of core national interests “including its principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute”.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said that both Pakistan and China have been standing together for decades. Our friendship is 70 years old, he maintained.

“We support China on its all core issues of national interests,” Bilawal said, adding that he had a thorough discussion with his Chinese counterparty.

“Pakistan supports the One-China policy,” the Pakistani foreign minister said, stressing that the CPEC is an important project between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that this year marks the completion of a decade of CPEC which has accelerated socio-economic development, job creation and improvement of people’s livelihoods in Pakistan.

He said this corridor project remains a win-win economic initiative opened to all investors around the world.

He said Pakistan remains profoundly grateful to China for its generous and timely assistance as we continue to grapple with the headwinds in the global economy.

Bilawal said Pakistan and China have always supported each other on issues of core national interests in both bilateral engagements and at multilateral forums. He said we appreciate China’s steadfast support on all our issues including its principled position on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

The foreign minister said the partnership between the two countries has grown over the years and enjoys consensus across generations and political divide.

He said we have had an in-depth exchange of views on the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation.  We agreed to the significance of this partnership for the mutual benefit of our two nations in the face of new developments.

He said both countries have stood with each other for decades and will continue to stand with each other in the decades to come.

He said Pakistan will continue to firmly support China on all core issues of its national interests.

Bilawal said the Pakistan-China friendship is irreversible. The mutual warmth and trust between the peoples of the two countries is a shining example of multicultural cooperation. This friendship is a historic reality and a consensus choice of the two nations.

He emphatically stated that Pakistan is against bloc politics or greater power competition of any kind. He said Pakistan looks forward to working together with all countries to address common challenges of development and connectivity.

He said we are committed to remaining engaged with China to promote cooperation in the light of emerging global concerns like human-induced climate change.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, during his two-day official visit to Islamabad, has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to pay heed to the security concerns of neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, and take steps to address them.

China’s top diplomat made these remarks in a joint press stakeout alongside Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad on Saturday.

“We hope that [Afghan] Taliban will form an inclusive government and give rights to all ethnic groups,” he added.

He also called upon Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their bilateral issues through dialogue, saying that neighbours cannot be changed.

“China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are friendly neighbouring countries. Neighbours cannot go anywhere,” he remarked.

The Chinese FM said Beijing was ready to expand security and counter-terrorism cooperation with Kabul and Islamabad to eliminate terror outfits from the region.

He said the Afghan people had been suffering for many years and urged the international community to take steps to alleviate the plight of the people of the war-torn country.

Chinese Foreign Minister Gang also hoped Pakistan’s political forces would come on the same page for the country’s stability as the almost-year-long crisis persists.

“After reaching a consensus, I hope that the political forces can get a grip on the country’s problems,” Gang told the press conference.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that stability would help the rulers effectively address internal and external issues. He added that stability would also help the South Asian nation boost its economy.

Earlier, during the 4th round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad, which was co-chaired by Gang and Bilawal, both sides also discussed the Afghan situation.

The entire range of bilateral relations and cooperation, including in political, strategic, economic, defence, security, education and cultural domains was reviewed during the dialogue, the FO said.

Regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

Stressing that peace and stability in Afghanistan is vital for socio-economic development, connectivity, and prosperity in the region, both sides called on all stakeholders to work together for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and united Afghanistan, which would firmly combat terrorism and live in harmony with its neighbours.

“The two sides underscored the need for the international community to provide continued assistance and support to Afghanistan including through unfreezing of Afghanistan’s overseas financial assets.

“The two sides agreed to continue their humanitarian and economic assistance for the Afghan people and enhance development cooperation in Afghanistan, including through extension of CPEC to Afghanistan,” the FO statement said.

Both sides agreed to continue their enduring support on issues concerning each other’s core national interests.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s special place in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy, the Chinese side reiterated its firm support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as its unity, stability, and economic prosperity, read the FO communique.

The Pakistani side reiterated its commitment to the “One China” policy as well as its firm support to its neighbour on all core issues of its national interest, including Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.

Welcoming the completion of a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2023, the two sides hailed the multi-billion-dollar project as a shining example of Belt and Road cooperation which has accelerated socio-economic development, job creation and improvement of people’s livelihoods in Pakistan.

Reaffirming their commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC, both sides noted with satisfaction the steady progress of CPEC projects. The two sides reiterated the key significance of the ML-1 project under the CPEC framework and agreed to advance its earliest implementation.

They also agreed to actively advance the Karachi Circular Railway alongside key areas of cooperation including, inter alia, agriculture, science and technology, IT, and renewable energy.

Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the need for resolution of all outstanding disputes. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments of the situation in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Chinese side reiterated that the Kashmir dispute was left over from history between India and Pakistan and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

“Both sides opposed any unilateral actions that further complicate the already volatile situation.”