Pak-China ties should not be seen in context of financial package: FM

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China has taken bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan to new heights.

“The depth of Pakistan and China relations should not be seen only in the context of financial package. China has agreed in principle to extend an economic relief package to Pakistan,” he said while addressing media along with Finance Minister Asad Umar and Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal.

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FM Qureshi said China had always helped Pakistan in difficult times and most recently it extended help in the month of July.

There were four main purposes behind visiting China, he said adding that China and Pakistan had time-tested relations based on mutual trust.

“The visit has been fruitful in turning strategic relations into economic relations with China. 15 agreements were signed during this trip,” he said.

Mehmood Qureshi said as per the agreement on money laundering, culprit involved in this practice would serve jail sentence in his own country.

“We also struck deals with China on eradication of poverty and development of agricultural sector among others, while discussing strategic dialogues on the level of foreign minister has also been agreed upon,” he said adding that we have to learn a lot from China on poverty alleviation.

The FM said negotiations on second phase of Free Trade Agreement will hopefully be completed in April next year, and the agreement will be signed on the occasion of Belt and Road Forum.

“The two sides also discussed ways to improve foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan. The technical level talks between the two sides in this regard will be held on Friday in Beijing, and the foreign secretary will represent Pakistan in it,” he said.

He said it was also discussed that local currencies should be given priority in trade to reduce pressure on dollar.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the priorities in the next phase of CPEC were also discussed to achieve progress, prosperity and connectivity.

He said industrialization, establishment and activation of special economic zones, transfer of technology for increase in agriculture productivity, job creation, housing, tourism, livelihood, and skill development of workforce will be focused in the next phase.

He said ways were also discussed to accelerate pace of development of Gwadar Port.

When asked about the visit of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells, the foreign minister said the two sides had discussed matters pertaining to promotion of trade and energy cooperation.

He said all the indicators from the US side were opening up. He said the US side had also offered to play a positive role on Pak-Afghan water issues.

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