Feb 5, 2022: PM Imran Khan met in Beijing on Saturday with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss a wide range of issues.
The prime minister is on a four-day visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese leadership, local businessmen and attended the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics to show solidarity with the brotherly country amid a boycott by the West. Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the focus of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meetings with the two leaders was Kashmir and Afghanistan.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with Chinese prime minister Li has ended. It was followed by a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat. Kashmir and Afghanistan were the main topics of discussion in both the meetings,” he tweeted.
China and Pakistan reaffirmed the centrality of the Pak-China All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reaffirmed their support for issues of mutual interest. Congratulating Prime Minister Li on hosting the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Prime Minister highlighted that the strategic relationship between Pakistan and China is in the fundamental interests of both countries and is an element of peace and stability in the region.
He added that the successful celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year had given a new impetus to bilateral friendship. The Prime Minister thanked the Chinese Government for its support and assistance to Pakistan in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and timely delivery of vaccines.
Discussing the regional security situation, the Prime Minister highlighted the dire situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as well as the importance of immediate action by the international community to alleviate the suffering of the Kashmiri people. He also stressed the importance of working together with Pakistan and China to promote common goals of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and regional ties.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office said the PM, in his meeting with the Uzbek President, exchanged views in detail on the entire gamut of bilateral relations based on shared bonds of faith, history, and culture.
The two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to comprehensively upgrade the Pakistan-Uzbekistan partnership across the broad spectrum and continue taking practical steps for the implementation of the key projects, according to the PM’s Office.
PM Imran Khan underscored the importance of enhanced trade and economic cooperation, particularly through operationalising the landmark bilateral Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) and finalising the Preferential Trade Agreement. To further improve connectivity and people-to-people contacts, the prime minister underlined the need to enhance tourism, take all steps for resuming direct flights, strengthen banking links, and facilitate visas procedures.
Stressing the need for practical engagement, the two leaders agreed that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was vital for regional stability as well as for the realisation of infrastructure and connectivity projects.
PM Imran Khan stated that the people of Pakistan were looking forward to welcoming President Mirziyoyev on his visit to Pakistan.
The two sides agreed to work closely to ensure the concrete outcome of the visit.
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