Pakistan and China agreed on Tuesday to deepen strategic cooperation and accelerate development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0 framework during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing.
A joint statement issued after the visit said both countries would promote “high-quality development” of CPEC projects and welcome third-party participation under mutually agreed arrangements.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during the four-day visit. The two sides discussed bilateral ties, regional security and economic cooperation.
Pakistan assured China it would take “targeted steps” to strengthen security for Chinese nationals, projects and institutions operating in the country.
Both countries also agreed to expand Gwadar Port’s role as a regional connectivity hub and improve land links through the Khunjerab Pass and Karakoram Highway projects.
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China renewed its support for resolving the Kashmir dispute through dialogue, in line with the United Nations Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The two sides also signed cooperation agreements across multiple sectors and agreed to strengthen coordination on Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, and the governance of artificial intelligence.