Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday lauded the timely assistance rendered by the Chinese government for the relief of Internally Displaced Persons and the people affected by recent floods. The Prime Minister termed the gesture a reflection of true friendship between the two countries, in a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong who called on him here at the PM House.
Prime Minister Sharif discussed matters of mutual interest and spoke highly of the recent progress in Pak-China relations. He stressed that Pakistan firmly supported China's core interests and major concerns and was ready to work with China to keep building mutual trust, fast-tracking the construction of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor and upgrading the bilateral co-operation.
Ambassador Sun said the Chinese government attached great importance to the all-weather and multi-dimensional strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, always regarding these ties as the priority of its foreign policy and would continue to promote friendship and substantive co-operation with Pakistan.
China, he said, wished to maintain close co-ordination and collaboration with Pakistan to create a safe and sound environment for bilateral relations as well as for the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor. Sun Weidong said Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the host-partners dialogue to be held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) Informal Leaders' Meeting in Beijing next month and looks forward to visiting Pakistan at an early and mutually convenient date. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude on receiving President Xi's invitation and said he also looked forward to the Chinese President's early visit to Pakistan, which he believed would uplift Pakistan-China relations to a higher level.