Friendship with China enjoys broad political support in Pakistan: Ahsan Iqbal

Dated : 5 April 2023

Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives reiterated that friendship and strategic partnership with China enjoyed a broad political support in Pakistan and acknowledged the role of Minister of International Department of Communist Party of China (IDCPC) in promoting better understanding and deepening relations between two countries.

The Minister made these remarks while meeting with Minister of IDCPC, Liu Jianchao in Beijing on Wednesday. The Planning Minister admired CPC’s role in China’s peaceful rise and economic development. Extending warm felicitations on the successful concussion of the annual “Two Sessions”, the Planning Minister paid tribute to vision of President Xi for launching initiatives like Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) which were contributing in creating a peaceful and harmonious world.

The Planning Minister said that friendship and strategic partnership with China enjoyed broad political support in Pakistan. He acknowledged IDCPC’s role in promoting better understanding and deepening relations between two countries, and specifically appreciated Minister IDCPC’s personal contributions in cementing bilateral ties as a true friend of Pakistan.

Hailing CPEC as the “shining example” of BRI cooperation, Minister IDCPC appreciated the Planning Minister’s role in nurturing and developing CPEC in his current and earlier tenures. Both reaffirmed CPEC’s importance as the flagship project of BRI, and decided to add further impetus to CPEC cooperation along with marking the completion of one decade as an important milestone.

Recalling the successful visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Beijing in November 2022, the two sides agreed to work out modalities of IDCPC’s support for capacity-building through special training of Pakistani young political leaders and professionals in China and experience sharing on CPC’s governance model for rural development, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, economic growth, use of technology, enhancement of exports and industrialization.

The Planning Minister also extended an invitation to Minister IDCPC to visit Pakistan to continue the discussions and cooperation for deepening bilateral ties.

Mr Liu Jianchao appreciated the contribution of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal towards making CPEC a success and emphasized that the iron brother relationship with Pakistan is unparalleled.