Chinese State Commissioner for Counter Terrorism and Security Cheng Guoping met Tariq Fatemi, special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs, at the Foreign Office on Monday, a press statement from the foreign ministry said.
Guoping is on a three-day visit to Pakistan.
During the meeting, Fatemi assured Guoping of Pakistan’s support for China on all core issues, adding that Pakistan stands firm against any attempt by foreign actors to undermine China’s sovereignty.
“Pakistan will continue to support China’s efforts to combat the three evils of terrorism, extremism and separatism,” the foreign ministry’s statement read.
Appreciating China’s position on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategy and the far-reaching successes achieved by Pakistan, Fatemi also thanked China for its support to Pakistan’s national security and territorial integrity, the release said.
The Chinese state commissioner, in response, stated that China attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and supports its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
He thanked Pakistan for its consistent support to China on issues of core interest and lauded the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan and its security forces in its fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism, which has helped maintain regional peace and stability, he said.
Fatemi and the Chinese state commissioner also reviewed other aspects of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, including economic development and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
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Noting the importance of CPEC for the economic development of Pakistan, the two leaders stressed that timely completion of CPEC projects would not only boost Pakistan’s economy, but also contribute significantly towards regional connectivity, peace and development.
Fatemi assured Guoping of Pakistan’s commitment to the timely and effective implementation of all projects under CPEC. He also affirmed that friendship with China was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The two sides expressed satisfaction at continued progress in bilateral relations in all fields and expressed their resolve to work towards further solidifying political relations, deepening economic bonds and security cooperation and closer people-to-people contacts, in order to achieve the common goal of China-Pakistan “Community of Shared Destiny”.