This undated file photo shows the national flags of China and Pakistan. PHOTO IC Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived in China on Saturday for a two-day visit at the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the first official bilateral visit since he took office last month.
The visit marks the first high-level in-person interaction between the two countries since the new Pakistani government was formed and coincides with the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing on Friday that China hoped to use the visit as an opportunity to renew their bilateral traditional friendship and consolidate strategic mutual trust.
He said that it was hoped to further deepen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
As all-weather strategic cooperative partners, it is necessary for China and Pakistan to improve communication and coordination on major strategic issues in a timely manner, and jointly respond to new developments in international and regional situations and their various risks and challenges, said the spokesman.
The two foreign ministers will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, with a focus on trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and have a wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues, according to a Pakistani press release.
The progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, would also be featured in the discussions.