Pakistani army ‘firmly supports’ boosting bilateral ties with China

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Pakistani army chief has voiced support for “further development” of the country’s relations with China.

General Asim Munir made his comments after he met China’s foreign policy chief, Wang Yi, in Beijing late Thursday, a readout from Beijing said.

“The Pakistani army firmly supports the further development of Pakistan-China relations,” Munir told Wang, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and state media.

“Pakistan will always stand with China through thick and thin no matter how the international situation changes,” Munir told Wang.

Asim’s meeting with Wang came on the same day when Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang, their first contact since the latter took office last month.

Islamabad, during the phone call, had reiterated its support for China on the Taiwan issue.

Sharif congratulated Li and reiterated Pakistan’s “unstinting” support to Beijing’s “one-China” policy, as well as its stance on Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea.

Wang told Munir that the two sides should take the 10th anniversary of the BRI as well as CPEC – that falls next year – as an “opportunity to promote the quality and efficiency of the corridor and help Pakistan enhance its independent development capabilities.”