Gambia: Pakistan and China on Sunday decided to develop and enhance cooperation in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
This was stated by Foreign Minister Yshak Dar and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress Zheng Jianbang.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), the two met on the sidelines of the 15th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Islamic Summit in The Gambia.
The FO said it is important for the two sides to “develop productive relations through close economic cooperation.”
The two also “confirmed climate-related strategic cooperation between Pakistan and China” and discussed exchanges between Pakistan’s Parliament and China’s National People’s Congress.
The statement also said that in the meeting, both countries “wanted to further develop and enhance cooperation in the CPEC project”.
It also discussed China’s growing relationship with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and stressed the importance of dialogue and understanding for peace and mutual prosperity.
Radio Pakistan also stated that Pakistan strongly supports China’s major issues and the importance of developing mutually productive relations through economic cooperation and collaboration.
Meanwhile, Jianbang reiterated China’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development.
Dar met separately with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the summit, where the two discussed “strong bonds of friendship and commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, especially in the economy, trade and defense sectors”.
Dar also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov. According to FO, the two exchanged views on deepening bilateral cooperation in trade, communication, energy and people-to-people relations, while also emphasizing the importance of dialogue at the political level.
Dar congratulated Azerbaijan for winning the bid to host COP29 and expressed Pakistan’s interest in cooperation on climate change. “Also, he appreciates Azerbaijan’s principled position on the illegal occupation of Indian Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” he said.