- During Pakistan visit, Wang Qishan to discuss international, regional issues with Premier Khan
BEIJING, China – China on Friday welcomed first top interaction between India soon after the Indian elections, expressing desire that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s congratulatory message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on election win of Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) would help both countries resolve differences through dialogue.
During a routine media briefing here, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that both Pakistan and India were important neighbous of China in South Asia and harmony between them would serve the fundamental interests of both sides which is also the shared aspiration of the international community.
“China has noted the interaction between the two leaders and we welcome that. We hope both sides can continue to show goodwill, meet each other halfway, resolve differences through dialogue, improve their relations and jointly uphold peace and stability of the region,” he said.
Responding to a question about the victory of the Modi’s BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, he said China also congratulated Prime Minister Modi on winning the election. He said Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent him a congratulatory message.
The spokesperson said China and India were important neighbours to each other and China attached high importance to bilateral relations with India.
It merits mention here that Prime Minister Imran Khan had congratulated his Indian counterpart Modi in a message posted on his Twitter account on Thursday. Indian Prime Minister Modi thanked him in his response and said he also considered regional peace and development as a priority.
WANG QISHAN’S VISIT TO PAKISTAN
Detailing the visit of Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan to Pakistan, Lu Kang said the Chinese dignitary was visiting Islamabad on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Apart from visiting Islamabad, Vice President would also visit Netherlands and Germany from May 26 to June 2, 2019,” said Lu Kang.
He said the Vice President Wang Qishan will be meeting President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan besides Chief of Army Staff and some other officials where the Chinese dignitary would exchange views on deepening bilateral relations. He said both Pakistan and China would also discuss international and regional issues of mutual interest.
“China and Pakistan are all weather strategic cooperative partners. We are iron-friends. We firmly support each other on issues concerning each other’s foreign interests and Pakistan has been a priority on China diplomacy,” he added.
He said there is sound momentum in China, Pakistan cooperation and frequent high level exchanges would take place this year.
“We are deepening our mutually beneficial cooperation (and would be) conducting close coordination in international and regional affairs,” he added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the second BRF in China last month, and he met with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Vice President Wang as both sides signed many bilateral cooperation agreements.
“We believe Vice President’s to Pakistan visit will further deepen high level exchange, friendship and mutual trust and advanced CPEC development and our cooperation across the board and injecting new impetus in a closer community of shared future for new era of two countries,” he concluded.
