Xi Jinping Meets with Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan

On April 28, 2019, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Pakistan is China's all-weather strategic cooperative partner. China and Pakistan are “iron friends” and have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests. The Chinese side takes Pakistan as a priority in its diplomacy. No matter how international and regional situations change, the Chinese side firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty and national dignity, choosing its own development path suited to its national conditions, combating terrorist and extremist forces, striving for a sound external security environment, and playing a constructive role in international and regional affairs.

Xi Jinping pointed out that during Mr. Prime Minister’s visit to China last November, both sides reached a series of important consensus on developing China-Pakistan relations. At present, major progress has been made in bilateral cooperation in the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), finance, trade and other aspects. In the next stage, China and Pakistan should make more efforts to advance the all-weather strategic cooperation. Both sides should deepen high-level contacts and mutual support, strengthen strategic communication, and promote high-quality cooperation in production capacity, infrastructure construction, people's livelihood and trade within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). We should continue to intensify efforts in coordination of international and regional affairs.

Imran Khan congratulated the Chinese side on successfully hosting the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and believed a growing number of countries will support and participate in cooperation under the BRI. As a landmark project, the CPEC has played an important role in Pakistan's economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood. He thanked the Chinese side’s strong support to Pakistan over a long time. The Pakistani side is willing to, together with the Chinese side, consolidate traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, and enhance communication and coordination in multilateral affairs.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situations in South Asia. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that Pakistan and India can meet each other halfway and promote the stabilization and improvement of Pakistan-India relations.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng attended the meeting.