China ready to roll over Pakistan's commercial loans

• FM Qureshi confirms China's willingness to roll over commercial loans of Pakistan.
• Says official announcement will be made after completion of procedural requirements.
• Says Pakistan's friendship with China cornerstone of country's foreign policy.

China is ready to roll over the commercial loans of Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed during talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Huangshan, Radio Pakistan reported.

Later, FM Qureshi, too, confirmed China's willingness and said that an official announcement about the roll over of these loans will be made once procedural requirements are completed by the authorities concerned.

Pak-China ties cornerstone of country's foreign policy, stresses Shah Mahmood Qureshi 

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) after the meeting quoted Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressing that relations with China were the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

The meeting took place during the foreign minister's visit to China to attend the third meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan’s Neighbouring Countries.

According to the foreign ministry, the two ministers exchanged views on bilateral strategic, economic and security cooperation during the bilateral meeting.

The meeting also discussed the COVID-19 pandemic, peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Read more: Afghanistan moot: FM Qureshi embarks on China trip

Qureshi reaffirmed the government’s resolve to further deepen the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm adherence to the “One-China” Policy and continued support on issues of China’s core interests.

The Pakistani minister 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 Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to China for the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Minister Yi’s visit to Islamabad to attend the OIC — Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, expressed satisfaction at the steady upward trajectory of Pakistan-China relations.

He highlighted that the leaders’ consensus was translating into high-quality development of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-II, and burgeoning cooperation in diverse areas of cooperation like industrial development, agricultural modernisation and information technology.

Thanking China for hosting meetings on Afghanistan, Qureshi emphasised deeper engagement between both countries, as well as Afghanistan’s other neighbours to promote peace, stability and development in the country and facilitate regional connectivity through the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. Highlighting Pakistan’s position calling for an immediate cessation of hostility, provision of humanitarian assistance and continued efforts for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy, Qureshi conveyed readiness to help facilitate a diplomatic solution including through the OIC platform.