PM Imran Khan meets Chinese premier, Uzbek president in Beijing

• Kashmir and Afghanistan in focus in both meetings.
• Discussions held on wide-ranging matters.
• PM Imran Khan is in Beijing on a four-day visit.

ISLAMABAD/BEIJING: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday held sperate meetings with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Beijing to discuss wide-ranging matters.

The prime minister is in Beijing on a four-day visit, where he met the Chinse leadership, local businessmen, and also attended the Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony to show solidarity with the brotherly nation amid the West's boycott.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that Kashmir and Afghanistan were the centerpiece of PM Imran Khan’s meetings with both the leaders.

“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.

During the meeting with the Chinese premier, several federal ministers — Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Shaukat Tarin, and Fawad Chaudhry — accompanied him.

The interaction between the two leaders was marked by traditional sentiments of warmth, deep mutual trust and understanding, a statement from the PM's Office said.

During the meeting, they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties including discussions on the bilateral economic and trade relations, onward march of CPEC and important issues of regional and global concern.

The two sides reaffirmed the centrality of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reiterated support on each other’s issues of core interest.

Congratulating Premier Li for organising Beijing Winter Olympics, the prime minister highlighted that strategic ties between Pakistan and China served the fundamental interests of the two countries and were a factor of peace and stability in the region.

He added that successful celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations held last year injected a new impetus to bilateral friendship.

The prime minister thanked the Chinese government for support and assistance to Pakistan in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and timely supply of vaccines.

PM Imran Khan appreciated the transformational impact of CPEC on Pakistan’s infrastructure, energy, socio-economic development and improvement in livelihoods of the people.

He underlined that Pakistan was committed to the high-quality development of CPEC through its mutually reinforcing industrial, trade, health, digital, and green corridors.

Exchanging views on the regional security situation, the prime minister highlighted the serious situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) as well as the importance of urgent action by the international community to alleviate the sufferings of the Kashmiri people.

He also underscored the importance of Pakistan and China working together to promote shared objectives of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and regional connectivity.

The two leaders agreed to work closely on further deepening bilateral economic engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to further advance the multifaceted strategic cooperative ties and building the Pakistan-China community of shared future in the new era.

Meeting with Uzbek president

In a separate statement, 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.

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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.

He also reiterated Pakistan’s full support of the Trans-Afghan railway project and exchanged views on the next steps in taking it forward over the coming months.

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.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation in education and culture and recognized progress on joint research and media ventures, including the joint film on Baburi heritage and dubbing of Pakistani dramas in the Uzbek language.

Read more: PM Khan attends opening ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

They also exchanged views on issues of regional peace and stability. The two sides stressed the need to continue economic and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by the international community to avoid any further deterioration of the situation.

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 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.

PM holds online meeting on renewable energy

Separately, PM Imran held an online meeting with Chairman China Energy and Engineering Corporation Dr Song Hailiang and Chairman Power China Dr Ding Yanzhang.

The meeting was about increasing investment in Pakistan’s energy sector including renewable energy and improvement in irrigation infrastructure.  

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Fayyaz Tarin, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, Special Assistant to PM on CPEC Affairs Khalid Mansoor, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf and senior officials concerned are attending the meeting. 

— Additional input from APP