Bilawal in China with a history of love

Islamabad: Pakistan aims to lift the iron-clad friendship with China to new heights as Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lands in Beijing for his first visit as the new top diplomat of Pakistan.

Bilawal has a history of love and friendship with China as his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his mother Benazir Bhutto cemented brotherhood with China as the Prime Ministers of Pakistan.

His father, Asif Ali Zardari remained in regular contact with China as the President from 2008-2013. In fact he is regarded as founder of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for Pakistan.

The senior Zardari himself recalls how he convinced the Chinese leadership for closer relations to make the historic friendship immortal.

Just days before his visit, FM Bilawal said Pakistan wanted close ties with every country of the world including the United States but never at the cost of Iron Brother China.

China has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan leading to development of the far-flung areas that was previously unimaginable.

While Pakistan’s relationship with China has always been friendly, the Bhutto family has always been a step ahead promoting the brotherhood.

After taking oath as the FM, Bilawal had immediately planned a visit to China. He already has held video-link talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

This will be the Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s first bilateral visit abroad since assuming office last month. He has visited the US this week but this was for the ministerial meeting on the “Global Food Security Call to Action.” He did meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines.

On the visit to China, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and senior officials are part of the delegation.

“During the visit, the foreign minister will hold extensive consultations with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two leaders will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on stronger trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and China,” the foreign ministry stated.

Fast-tracked progress on the transformational CPEC, flagship project of President Xi Jinping’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will also feature in the discussions. The two sides will also have wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues.

Foreign Minister Bilawal’s visit will also coincide with the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

Earlier, State Councilor Wang Yi had written a letter of congratulations to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on his assumption of the office of Foreign Minister. The two Foreign Ministers had previously held a virtual meeting on 11 May 2022.

The Foreign Minister’s visit is part of the high-level exchanges between the two sides, which recently also included message of felicitations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from Premier Li Keqiang, and telephone conversation between the two premiers on May 16, 2022.

On 16 May, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, held a comprehensive telephonic conversation.

The two PMs also discussed bilateral matters of mutual importance. Prime Minister Sharif affirmed his government’s firm resolve to fast track both the ongoing as well as the new projects under the transformational CPEC. Premier Li assured Prime Minister Sharif of China’s readiness to enhance economic cooperation, expand trade and encourage greater investments from China to Pakistan.

On Friday afternoon, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said Pakistan will continue to enhance the security arrangements for Chinese nationals and companies.

“There is a clear, continuing and strong commitment from the leadership that the Chinese nationals and companies working in Pakistan, specifically on CPEC projects, and in the context of protection of CPEC itself, is very important and we are taking all necessary steps to provide fool proof security to them. We also remain in touch with our Chinese friends on any possible moves that we may need to take at other fora to advance our shared objectives with regard to countering terrorism and protecting CPEC and related personnel and infrastructure,” he maintained.

Ahmed mentioned there was continuing discussion with the Chinese side, adding: “One thing is clear we are confident that we will together take steps to effectively deal with the challenge and to take forward the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”

He rejected rumours about the closure of Confucius Institutes in Pakistan and return of Chinese staff. “All Confucius Institutes in Pakistan remain operational. Online and physical classes are being held by both Chinese and Pakistani teachers. Some Chinese teachers have indeed returned to China for their summer vacations,” he added.