Islamabad, Pakistan: The Foreign Office of Pakistan has said that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi held a meeting with Prime Minister of China Li Keqiang at sideline in Sochi.
Foreign Office of Pakistan states:
The two sides expressed satisfaction on the overall level of engagement and agreed to continue close cooperation both within SCO and at the bilateral level in all areas particularly political, economic and trade, defense and strategic, and multilateral matters.
The Prime Minister congratulated Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the success of 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China and his re election on the Political Bureau as well as of President Xi Jinping as party General Secretary. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s traditional strong support to China on its core issues including ‘One China Policy’.
The Chinese Premier reiterated full commitment to the all weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. He stated that Pakistan’s membership of SCO will further contribute to the regional peace, security, stability and development.
The Prime Minister appreciated the active work being undertaken by the SCO under the Chinese current chairmanship and assured Pakistan’s complete support in fulfilling the targets set forth by China in political, economic and cultural realms during its Presidency.
Premier Li expressed happiness over the finalization of Long-Term Plan of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor during the recently held 7th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee in Islamabad.
The two leaders acknowledged that Pakistan-China partnership is an anchor of strength for regional and global peace and stability. They underscored continued support to each other on all issues of mutual interest.
Both leaders are in Sochi to attend 16th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s member-states.
It may be mentioned that the heads of governments of India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will exchange views on the current situation in the region and the world and discuss a broad range of issues of further economic and humanitarian cooperation in the framework of the SCO.
The summit will be also attended by the representatives of the SCO observer states – Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia, and also heads of the Secretariat, the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, the Business Council, the SCO interbank group and some international and regional organizations.
Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia currently enjoy observer status while Sri Lanka, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal are dialogue partners.