File photo: Nawaz Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistani new-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Charge d 'affaires Pang Chunxue of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday. Shehbaz noted that the new Pakistani government attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, science and technology, education and poverty alleviation.

During the meeting, Pang first conveyed the congratulations of the Chinese government on Shehbaz election as Pakistani Prime Minister, saying that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners and bilateral relations are as firm as a rock and unbreakable. Pang also noted that China looks forward to working closely with the new Pakistani government to continue traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, advance the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

Shehbaz thanked the Chinese government and leaders for their warm congratulations on his election. He said the Pakistan-China friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples and is indestructible and unshakeable.

Pakistan and China have always supported each other and conducted mutually beneficial cooperation, setting a good example for state-to-state relations. Under the personal care of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the CPEC has made steady progress and yielded fruitful results.

Shehbaz said that the new Pakistani government will push forward the construction of the CPEC with greater vigor and efficiency and create a "Pakistan speed" to bring more benefits to the two countries.

Global Times