Pakistan, China call for expanding cultural exchanges

BEIJING: Pakistan and China have underlined the importance of expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges to build an even closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the New Era.  

This came at a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Thursday, according to Radio Pakistan.

The two sides discussed the high-quality development under CPEC 2.0, with a focus on deepening cooperation in renewable energy, science & technology, infrastructure, and agriculture sectors to further advance shared progress and common prosperity.

They also discussed the opportunities to enhance trade and economic cooperation through business to business and private sector linkages.

President Asif Ali Zardari highlighted the enduring and deep-rooted China-Pakistan “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” nurtured by successive generations of the leaders of both countries.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties, emphasizing the time-tested, deep-rooted, and enduring partnership between the two countries.

The President highlighted the pivotal role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in promoting regional connectivity and economic growth and expressed appreciation for China’s continued support towards Pakistan’s development agenda.

On Wednesday, President Asif Ali Zardari met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping here wherein two sides discussed the positive trajectory of the bilateral relationship, high-quality development of CPEC 2.0, and the significance of people-to-people linkages and cultural exchanges.

In the meeting held at the Great Hall of the People during the five-day official visit of President Zardari to China, the two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of common interest, and opportunities to even further expand the scope of bilateral partnership, especially through continued high-level exchanges.

They highlighted the vital role of CPEC 2.0 in promoting regional connectivity, shared benefits and common prosperity, including through partnerships with other countries.