PTI, Islamabad :Pakistan and China have agreed on the need for maintaining strategic balance in South Asia, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his 11-member delegation concluded an official visit to Islamabad on Friday.Summing up the Chinese foreign minister’s visit, Pakistani foreign ministry said this was the first official visit of Mr Wang Yi to Pakistan after assuming charge as foreign minister. Main purpose of his visit was to finalise the upcoming tour of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan at an early date this year.During the visit, the Chinese foreign minister called on President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.The president, in his meeting with the Chinese foreign minister, stated that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with China. He noted that Pakistan-China friendship was a factor of stability in the region. FM Wang Yi agreed with the president, describing Pakistan-China friendship as deep-rooted and irreplaceable. Later, at a special investiture ceremony at the President’s House, the president conferred the Hilal-e-Pakistan award on Wang Yi in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the promotion of relations between the two countries.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his meeting with the Chinese foreign minister, said the leadership of both countries is committed to further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that wide-ranging economic cooperation between Pakistan and China had entered a new dimension. It was vital for the two countries to translate their shared vision for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into a reality. Wang Yi agreed that there was a need for speedy implementation of the CPEC and other vital projects, which would transform the entire region.Prime Minister Nawaz said that friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, emphasising that China has always been a sincere friend of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan is eagerly looking forward to welcome President Xi Jinping to Pakistan, adding that the government believes this important visit would further strengthen the all-weather strategic partnership between the two countries bringing them closer to achieving the dream of building a “Pakistan-China Community of Shared Destiny”.He said Pakistan attaches high importance to the CPEC and expressed the confidence that President Xi’s expected visit would help fast-tracking CPEC early harvest projects.Nawaz said that security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan is a matter of high priority for Pakistan and special arrangements are being made for this purpose.
