Pakistan is against bloc politics or greater power competition of any kind: Bilawal Bhutto
\n ISLAMABAD
\nForeign Minister Bilawal Bhutto on Saturday stressed the importance of \u201cpeace and stability in Afghanistan\u201d for the region\u2019s socioeconomic development and vowed to work together with all stakeholders, including China, towards its achievement.
\nAddressing a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Islamabad, Bilawal said: \u201cIn our dialogue today, we also noted the peace and stability in Afghanistan remains vital for socio-economic development, connectivity and prosperity in the region.
\n\u201cWe will continue to work together with all stakeholders for peaceful, stable, prosperous and united Afghanistan,\u201d he asserted.
\nA day ago, the foreign ministers of China and Afghanistan arrived in Islamabad to participate in bilateral and trilateral meetings on a range of issues, including security and the economy.
\nThe Chinese minister (who is on a two-day visit) had called on President Arif Alvi, where both sides resolved to work together to promote regional peace and prosperity as well as jointly cope with external challenges.
\nActing Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (who is on a four-day visit) will also participate in some bilateral meetings, notably, the fifth China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers\u2019 Dialogue.
\nMuttaqi\u2019s visit is a continuation of Pakistan\u2019s political engagement with Afghanistan, which, among other things, included khar\u2019s visit to Kabul in November last year and a visit of high level delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in February.
\nToday, Bilawal highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between Pakistan and China: \u201cOur two countries have stood with each other for decades and would continue to stand with each other in the decades to come.
\nThe minister reiterated Pakistan\u2019s firm support for China \u201con all its core issues, including One-China policy, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea\u201d.
\n\u201cPakistan remains profoundly grateful to China for its generous and timely assistance as we continue to grapple with the headwinds in a global economy,\u201d he added.
\nBilawal further termed the Pakistan-China friendship as \u201cirreversible\u201d, \u201ca historic reality\u201d, and a \u201cconsensus choice of the two nations\u201d. He added: \u201cPakistan remains against bloc politics or great power competition of any kind.\u201d
\n\u201cWe are committed to remaining engaged with China to promote south-south cooperation, especially in light of emerging global concerns like human-induced climate change,\u201d he vowed.
\nTalking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Bilawal said it remains a \u201cwin-win economic initiative open to all investors around the world\u201d.
\nThe minister said Pakistan reiterated its \u201cabiding commitment to its [CPEC\u2019s] high-quality development\u201d.
\nBilawal further said: \u201cCPEC remains a shining example of the Belt and Road Cooperation, which is accelerated socioeconomic development, job creation and improvement of the people\u2019s livelihoods in Pakistan.\u201d
\nEarlier today, Bilawal appreciated China\u2019s \u201cprincipled and just stance\u201d on the issue of India-occupied Kashmir as well as its \u201cfirm support for Pakistan\u2019s territorial integrity\u201d.
\nAddressing a delegation-level meeting with China at the Foreign Office (FO), Bilawal said, \u201cWe deeply appreciate China\u2019s firm support for Pakistan\u2019s territorial integrity, sovereignty and national development as well as China\u2019s principled and just stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.\u201d
\nThe minister stressed upon the importance of Pak-China relations: \u201cThere is absolute unison when it comes to the Pak-China strategic partnership. I can assure Your Excellency that this sentiment is shared by everyone in Pakistan for China and the great Chinese nation.
\n\u201cChina can always count on Pakistan as its most reliable partner and trusted friend. Friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy. The centrality and criticality of Pakistan\u2019s all-weather partnership with China cannot be overstated,\u201d Bilawal asserted.
\nHe termed Chinese assistance and support in the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Sudan as a \u201crecent manifestation of our friendship\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan is against bloc politics or greater power competition of any kind: Bilawal Bhutto ISLAMABAD Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto on Saturday stressed the importance of \u201cpeace and stability in Afghanistan\u201d for the region\u2019s socioeconomic development and vowed to work together with all stakeholders, including China, towards its achievement. Addressing a joint press conference with his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":329762,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-329745","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n