Xi says to build closer community with Pakistan in new era

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that he stands ready to work with Pakistani President Arif Alvi to deepen bilateral strategic communication and pragmatic cooperation, and to promote high-quality operation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He made the remarks in an exchange of congratulatory messages with Alvi on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations.

Xi said he is willing to join hands with the Pakistani leader to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era for the benefit of both countries and their people.

In his message, Xi said that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.

The mutual trust and friendship between the two countries have withstood the test of the changing international landscape over the past 70 years and always remained rock solid, he said.

In recent years, with joint efforts of both sides, the construction of the CPEC has achieved remarkable results, bringing important benefits to the two peoples and adding strong impetus to regional prosperity, he added.

Noting that China and Pakistan have shared weal and woe and helped each other sincerely in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said the two countries' ironclad friendship has been further upgraded.

The Chinese president also expressed his hope that the China-Pakistan friendship will flourish forever.

Alvi, for his part, said that over the past 70 years, Pakistan and China have always maintained solidarity, mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual support through thick and thin.

Under the strong leadership of President Xi, Pakistan-China relations have grown stronger, more solid and dynamic than ever before, he said.

Thanking China for its valuable support for Pakistan in combating COVID-19, Alvi said his country is ready to work closely with China to ensure the success of the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Pakistan will work to help the people of the two countries better understand the depth, breadth and vitality of the bilateral relations, strive to build the CPEC into a model project of high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation, and build an even closer Pakistan-China community with a shared future in the new era, Alvi added.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In the message, Li said China has always prioritized Pakistan in its foreign policy, and is ready to work with Pakistan to lift their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level in the next 70 years.

Khan said in his message that the Pakistani government is firmly committed to speeding up the construction of the CPEC and is willing to work with China to push for further development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, so as to create a better future for the two peoples.