Beijing, May 26:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday met Chinese President Xi Jinping, who hailed Beijing’s “unbreakable” friendship with Islamabad and commended Pakistan for taking the initiative to play a mediating role in restoring peace in West Asia.
During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi called Shehbaz an “old friend” and said the two countries “understood, trusted and supported each other” over decades, forging an “unbreakable traditional friendship,” according to Dawn newspaper.
“China commends Pakistan for taking the initiative to play a mediating role in restoring peace in the Middle East,” Xi told Shehbaz, who was accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir who concluded his visit to Iran on Saturday.
Sharif appreciated China’s support for Pakistan in mediating the US-Iran negotiations, noting that President Xi’s four propositions on the West Asia situation offer guidance for achieving peace, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Earlier, Shehbaz held talks with Premier Li Qiang during which he called for Islamabad and Beijing to “really be together” in ongoing efforts to restore peace in West Asia.
PM Shehbaz said that the “iron-clad friendship” between the two countries was rooted in mutual trust, strategic confidence and shared commitment to peace, development and prosperity.
The two leaders “reiterated their support on all issues of core interests to both countries”.