PNN – The governments of Pakistan and China, with their firm opposition to double standards in the fight against terrorism, demanded the international community to strengthen joint cooperation against terrorism.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, from the public relations office of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the joint statement of Islamabad and Beijing was published at the end of the official visit of Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan to China, during which both neighboring countries agreed to further strengthen strategic, economic, security and counter-terrorism cooperation.
In this joint statement, it is stated: The two sides emphasized their commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with a “zero tolerance” approach and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism and security interactions through a comprehensive approach.
Calling on the international community to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation, Pakistan and China expressed their firm opposition to double standards in the fight against terrorism.
They emphasized that no attempt to weaken China-Pakistan cooperation will ever succeed. In line with its iron friendship with China, the Pakistani side will pursue and prosecute the perpetrators of the recent terrorist attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Also, more effective security measures will be adopted by Islamabad and all-out efforts will be made to ensure the security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.
The Chinese side also recognized Pakistan’s assistance and efforts in fighting terrorism over several decades.
The two sides emphasized their unyielding support for each other on issues related to their core interests. The Pakistani side emphasized its firm commitment to the One-China principle and said that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory, and Islamabad firmly supports Beijing’s efforts to achieve national unity and opposes any form of “Taiwan independence”.
Pakistan strongly supports China in issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. The Chinese side also expressed its firm support to Pakistan in defending the sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity of this country, in pursuing the path of development appropriate to national conditions and achieving economic prosperity, decisively fighting terrorism and playing a greater role at the regional and international level.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with some political and economic officials during his 4-day trip to Beijing in addition to meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is going to make an official visit to China soon.