Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto highlighted the importance of “peace and stability in Afghanistan” for the region’s socioeconomic development, pledging to collaborate with all stakeholders, including China, to achieve this objective.
At a joint press conference in Islamabad with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Bilawal stated, “Today’s dialogue emphasized the necessity of peace and stability in Afghanistan for regional socioeconomic development, connectivity, and prosperity.”
He added, “We will continue working with all parties to create a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and united Afghanistan.”
Chinese and Afghan foreign ministers arrived in Islamabad to engage in bilateral and trilateral discussions on various topics, including security and the economy. The Chinese minister met with President Arif Alvi during his two-day visit, agreeing to cooperate to promote regional peace and prosperity and address external challenges together.
Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is in Islamabad for a four-day visit, participating in bilateral meetings and the fifth China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue.
Bilawal emphasized the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China, stating that the two countries have stood side by side for decades and will continue to do so. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for China on core issues such as the One-China policy, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea.
“Pakistan is deeply grateful to China for its generous and timely assistance as we continue to face the challenges of a global economy,” he added.
Furthermore, Bilawal described the Pakistan-China friendship as “irreversible,” “a historical reality,” and a “consensual choice of the two nations” while opposing any form of bloc politics or great power competition.
He pledged to remain engaged with China in promoting south-south cooperation, particularly in addressing emerging global concerns such as human-induced climate change.
Bilawal emphasized that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a “win-win economic initiative open to investors worldwide,” reiterating Pakistan’s “enduring commitment to [CPEC’s] high-quality development.”
He added, “CPEC is a shining example of Belt and Road Cooperation, accelerating socio-economic development, job creation, and improving people’s livelihoods in Pakistan.”
Earlier, Bilawal commended China’s “principled and just position” on the India-occupied Kashmir issue and its “strong support for Pakistan’s territorial integrity.”
