This andated file photo shows the national flags of China and Pakistan. PHOTO IC BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang talked with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on bilateral ties on Monday.
In the phone call, Li said that China and Pakistan are friendly neighbors and iron-clad friends, noting that President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in 2015, which has increased the level of bilateral strategic cooperation.
China always regards its ties with Pakistan as a priority in its diplomacy with neighboring countries and will support the country in defending national sovereignty and security, improving people's livelihood and maintaining financial stability, he said.
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He said that China is ready to work with Pakistan to strengthen strategic communication, promote cooperation on such major projects as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and strengthen bilateral personnel exchanges on the condition of effective epidemic prevention and control.
Li pointed out that the Chinese side is outraged and shocked by the recent attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi, and strongly condemns this terrorist attack.
The Chinese premier hopes that Pakistan will bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible, make every effort to handle follow-up matters, comfort the bereaved families and injured, and strengthen security measures for Chinese institutions and citizens in Pakistan to make sure that similar tragedies don't happen again.
For his part, Sharif expressed deep condolences over the death of Chinese nationals in the Karachi terrorist attack and sincere sympathy to the injured.
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Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism, cherishes the lives and safety of Chinese nationals and regards Chinese victims and wounded as its own compatriots without distinction, Sharif stressed, adding that the country will do its best to find out the truth, arrest and punish the perpetrators in accordance with the law.
The Pakistani side will strengthen security measures for all Chinese institutions and nationals in Pakistan to prevent similar incidents happening again, he said.
The friendship between Pakistan and China has been deeply rooted and bilateral cooperation has reached an unprecedented level, according to Sharif.
He said that Pakistan is ready to work with China to speed up the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, deepen cooperation on key projects and special economic zones and increase personnel exchanges to bring more benefits to the two peoples.
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