Beijing sees Pakistan PM’s visit as opportunity to make ‘greater progress’ in strategic partnership

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to China will serve as an opportunity for both countries to make “greater progress” in their all-weather strategic, cooperative partnership, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
Pakistan’s foreign office announced on Friday that Sharif would be visiting China from June 4 till June 8 on an invitation extended to him by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese investment and financial support since 2013 have been key for the South Asian nation’s struggling economy, including the rolling over of loans so that Islamabad is able to meet external financing needs at a time its foreign reserves are critically low.
Sharif’s visit will seek to upgrade cooperation under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a key part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“China and Pakistan have in recent years had close high-level exchanges, steadily advanced practical cooperation, conducted fruitful and high-quality cooperation on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and maintained sound communication and coordination in international and regional affairs,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Friday.
“China stands ready to work with Pakistan through this visit to make greater progress in our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and take new steps in the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.”

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