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China places high premium on Pakistan relations, says President Xi after General Bajwa's visit

WION Web Team
Beijing, ChinaUpdated: Sep 20, 2018, 10:28 AM IST
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File photo of Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa. Photograph:(Reuters)

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China already pledged to invest about $60 billion in Pakistan for infrastructure for the Belt and Road project

As Pakistan's Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa concluded his China trip, President Xi said the two countries were "Iron friends" as he placed his faith on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction(CPEC).

"China always places a high premium on China-Pakistan relations," Xi was quoted by China's official Xinhua news agency as saying. Xi also expressed his appreciation for the "support and security safeguards" provided by Pakistan for the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction, Xinhua added.

During his visit to China General Bajwa met senior Chinese leaders including military officials. The Pakistan Army chief's visit came just days after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to Islamabad during which he held a comprehensive talks with PM Imran Khan among others.

Relations between the two countries became the focus of attention last week after a minister in the Pakistan government commerce minister, Abdul Razak Dawood said the country would be suspending the BRI project for a year due to mounting debts which was later denied by the Pakistan foreign ministry and government officials.

General Bajwa assured Chinese officials including military officials Gen Zhang Youxia that the new government would be following a "consistent policy of pragmatic cooperation with China." Zhang in turn said that China greatly values its "time-tested relations with Pakistan and its Army." He added that China looks forward to further expanding this cooperation. 

"As long as high-degree mutual trust and concrete measures are in place, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction will succeed and deliver benefits to people of the two countries," Xi said.

China already pledged to invest about $60 billion in Pakistan for infrastructure for the Belt and Road project, a move which is frowned upon by several countries including India which views it as a threat to its sovereignty as the roads in the project run through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK) and other areas.

Over 10,000 Chinese workers are said to be working in the CPEC projects in Pakistan who are provided special protection by the Pakistan Army and para-military forces.