Strategic alliance pivotal to ties, Xi Jinping tells Pakistan's Sharif
President describes bond with neighbour as too strong to break in meeting with Pakistan PM
Strengthening the nation's strategic partnership with Pakistan is a diplomatic priority for Beijing, President Xi Jinping told Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday, adding that an economic corridor linking the two nations should be properly established.
Sharif, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to begin his first diplomatic trip since his inauguration last month, also called for Chinese involvement in his nation's energy and infrastructure projects, as Islamabad attempts to head off an economic crisis.
Xi pledged to enhance pragmatic co-operation between the two countries, describing Pakistan as a "good neighbour, friend, partner and brother of China".
"The friendship between the two nations is deep-rooted and too strong to break," Xi told Sharif, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Xi's wife, Peng Liyuan, was also at the meeting.
Sharif's visit comes less than two months after Premier Li Keqiang visited Pakistan in May, diplomatic efforts that observers say are an attempt to demonstrate the countries strong relationship.
In meetings with Xi and representatives of Chinese institutions, Sharif pledged to provide a safe environment for Chinese investors and promised that both sides would benefit from an economic corridor linking Pakistan's Gwadar Port and Kashgar in the restive Chinese region of Xinjiang .
The corridor would consist of a series of special economic zones, a rail link, and possibly a pipeline, serving as an alternate route to the Strait of Malacca, observers said.