HUANGSHAN, China: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a bilateral meeting in Tunxi District of China’s Huangshan City on Wednesday.
Accompanied by the Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is visiting China to attend the Third Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan’s Neighbouring Countries.
Good to be in #China for the third meeting of Foreign Ministers of Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan. Appreciate my brother State Councilor & FM #WangYi hosting this. A continued regional approach on #Afghanistan is important for promoting durable peace and stability. pic.twitter.com/1TjDp9CgMw
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 30, 2022
In the meeting, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on bilateral strategic, economic and security cooperation; COVID-19 pandemic; peace, stability and development in Afghanistan; and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressed that the relations with China was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to further deepen the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s firm adherence to the “One-China” Policy and continued support on issues of China’s core interests and thanked China for its consistent support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, political stability and socio-economic development.
Recalling the recent high-level exchanges between the two sides including the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China in February 2022 for the Opening Ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics and State Councilor Wang Yi’s visit to Islamabad to attend the OIC – Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting as a Special Guest, Qureshi expressed satisfaction at the steady upward trajectory of Pakistan-China relations.
The foreign minister highlighted that the leaders’ consensus was translating into high-quality development of CPEC Phase-II, and burgeoning cooperation in diverse areas of cooperation like industrial development, agricultural modernization and information technology.
The foreign minister thanked China for hosting the meetings on Afghanistan. He emphasized deeper engagement between Pakistan and China, as well as Afghanistan’s other neighbours, to promote peace, stability and development in the country and facilitate regional connectivity through extension of CPEC to Afghanistan.
The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. Highlighting Pakistan’s position calling for immediate cessation of hostility, provision of humanitarian assistance and continued efforts for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi conveyed readiness to help facilitate a diplomatic solution including through OIC platform.
