Pakistan is a strategic partner of China: FM Qureshi

Multan: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is a strategic partner of China.

Speaking to journalists here, FM Qureshi mentioned that a delegation led by Prime Minister Imran Khan would visit China to express solidarity with the Chinese government for the winter Olympics as some countries boycotted the mega event.

“Pakistan is a strategic partner of China. China has a very clear viewpoint and always supported Pakistan,” he maintained.

FM Qureshi informed that PM Khan would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his three-day stay in China from February 3 to 5.

“Both sides want to promote trade ties further. Similarly, China has very clear viewpoint and had always supported Pakistan,” he added.

Responding a question about fertilizer shortage, FM Qureshi contended that the government was providing uninterrupted gas supply to fertilizer factories and fertilizer was also being imported from China.

FM Qureshi reminded that the relations between Pakistan and China were exemplary and nobody can deny the significance of the relationship.

“The PM will attend the Beijing Olympics 2022 and hold important meetings with the Chinese President (Xi Jinping) and the Chinese Prime Minister (Li Keqiang),” he elaborated.

He stressed that Pakistan’s foreign policy was focused on economic diplomacy adding the investment and bilateral trade were also very important. “History shows that Pakistan and China have always stood by each other in difficult times,” the FM noted.

Earlier, PM Imran Khan had directed all relevant ministers to prepare for all the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to be signed during his visit to China. Five ministers including FM Qureshi, will accompany PM Imran Khan on his three-day trip to China.

The premier also briefed the ministers regarding the COVID-19 protocols to be followed during the visit to China. He further directed all ministers to take necessary briefing from their ministries ahead of this “important trip.”

Last week, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed had said that during the prime minister’s visit, Islamabad and Beijing would discuss the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), among other matters.

PM Imran Khan has already issued directives to expedite work on the CPEC projects ahead of his visit.