China, Pakistan have common views on Afghan issue: Qureshi

AVA- This was stated by the Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in an interview with Chinese major media outlet, the Global Times.
During his stay in Beijing last week, the Minister had a detailed interaction with the media, highlighting the importance, Pakistan attached with its friendship with China and for working together to promote peace and prosperity in the region.
He said, both Pakistan and China are committed to peace and development in Afghanistan and wished early settlement of the issue, as desired by its people.
About the recent Strategic Dialogue, the two countries held here, he said this not only reinforced our close friendly ties but also allowed both sides to evaluate the regional situation and the steps which could be taken to improve it.
The Minister co-chaired with State Councillor Wang Yi the inaugural meeting of Dialogue following a decision of the political leadership of both countries in
November 2018 to elevate the dialogue to Foreign Minister’s level.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, he held in-depth discussions with State Councillor on the whole spectrum of our bilateral relations including high-level exchanges, future development and direction of CPEC, cooperation in the fields of trade, defence and security, enhancing people-to-people exchanges and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
He hoped this platform will serve as an opportunity to further consolidate our time-tested All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reiterate our commitment to building closer China-Pakistan community of Shared Future in the New Era.
Applauding China’s support to Pakistan in regard to its sovereignty, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, China is a voice of reason and wisdom in our region.
We value and appreciate China’s support and for its call to exercise restraint and upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. We welcome the Chinese efforts and its good offices to stabilize the situation in our region.
To a question about the current regional situation, the Minister said, recent developments in South Asia are well known to the world. The world is also aware of how the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has acted to deescalate the situation.
Pakistan has convincingly manifested its quest for peace in the region by offering dialogue to India and investigation of the Pulwama incident if credible evidence was made available.
To a question about CPEC, Qureshi said Philosophy of PTI and our government is people-oriented and people-centric.
As reflected in the Pakistan-China joint statement issued in November 2018, both the countries agreed to focus on socio-economic development, job creation, improving people’s livelihood, poverty alleviation, industrialization, development of industrial parks and agriculture- that is Phase-II of CPEC with the premise to build on the achievements of Phase-I.
President Xi Jinping’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative, he said has drawn the attention of the world and countries along the Belt and Road are seeking means of collaborative and integrated economic development.
CPEC is the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative. It is primarily a bilateral project between Pakistan and China. CPEC will bring economic dividends to the region.
We are open to project-based participation of third countries including Saudi Arabia in the development of CPEC.
The Minister informed that at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, the Prime
Minister Imran Khan will attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April 2019. He is expected to hold meetings with Chinese leadership on the sidelines of the Forum. More details will be released in due course.