Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar addressed the China-Pakistan Consultative Mechanism meeting in Islamabad, welcoming a high-level Chinese delegation led by Minister Liu Jianchao.
The meeting marks a critical step in fortifying the already robust ties between the two nations, particularly under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During his address, Deputy Prime Minister Dar underscored the uniqueness of the consultative mechanism, describing it as a vital platform for fostering deeper cooperation and development between Pakistan and China. "The meeting is a unique idea for the promotion of Pakistan-China relations," he stressed, highlighting that all political parties in Pakistan unanimously support the CPEC.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met Mr. Liu Jianchao, Minister of Central Committee of the International Department of Communist Party of China (IDCPC) today in Islamabad.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 21, 2024
Welcoming Mr. Liu to Pakistan, the Deputy Prime… pic.twitter.com/5vnG6Z7cYL
"Pakistan is proud to be the first country with which China started the Belt and Road Initiative," Dar said at the meeting, emphasizing the historical significance of CPEC since its inception in 2013 under the leadership of the Chinese president.
He further said that the Chinese delegation's visit to Pakistan is part of the high-level relations between the two countries, calling CPEC a new vision of cooperation between the two countries.
"CPEC has promoted social, sustainable development, and regional cooperation,” Dar noted, adding that the multi-billion-dollar project led to record MoUs between the two countries and cemented a new era of China-Pakistan relations.
The deputy PM also highlighted that China helped Pakistan through investment in its difficult times, adding that under CPEC, infrastructure and energy projects were launched.
Chinese Minister Liu Jianchao expressed pleasure over the convening of the joint consultative mechanism meeting, reaffirming the Chinese leadership's commitment to enhancing bilateral relations. He highlighted the flourishing China-Pakistan relations under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
"Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited China two weeks ago," he recalled, adding that the leadership discussed the regional and global situation. "China and Pakistan agreed to further increase strategic cooperation."
The minister stressed that his visit was a development of the commitment of the leadership of both countries to enhance relations. "The security situation should be improved for investment," he highlighted, adding that CPEC has the full support of the people of Pakistan.
Liu warned against external elements spreading false information to undermine public support for CPEC. "Some external elements want to damage this public support by spreading false information," he added.
The meeting saw participation from prominent political leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, PTI's Rauf Hassan and Ali Zafar, and MQM-Pakistan chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Their presence underscored the broad political backing for the initiatives discussed.
