Pakistan and its all-weather ally also agreed on the need for maintaining strategic balance in South Asia, a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office said after the conclusion of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit in Islamabad on Friday. Pakistan and its all-weather ally also agreed on the need for maintaining strategic balance in South Asia, a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office said after the conclusion of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit in Islamabad on Friday.

With India seeking a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council, Pakistan and China have said any change in the 15-member body should be achieved through “consensus”.

Pakistan and its all-weather ally also agreed on the need for maintaining strategic balance in South Asia, a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office said after the conclusion of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit in Islamabad on Friday.

“Both sides agreed on the need to make United Nations Security Council more representative and effective, and that its reform should be achieved by consensus,” the statement said.

India has been pressing for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council and during his recent India visit, US President Barack Obama had reaffirmed his support to New Delhi’s bid in this regard.

Pakistan is opposed to India getting a permanent seat. Sharif, in a telephonic conversation with Obama on Thursday, had told him that India’s permanent membership in the UNSC is unacceptable to Pakistan. The Pakistan Prime Minister said India should not be given a permanent seat as it has “not complied” with UN resolutions on Kashmir.

Top officials of China and Pakistan discussed bilateral and regional issues during Wang’s visit. The issue of regional situation figured in the delegation-level talks between Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the Chinese Foreign Minister, who led a seven-member delegation.

“In the delegation-level talks between the Advisor and the Chinese Foreign Minister, the two sides reviewed all aspects of the bilateral relationship,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.

“The two sides also took stock of regional developments and agreed on the need for maintaining strategic balance in South Asia,” it said. They agreed that work on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and that its related projects should be expedited to ensure that ‘Early Harvest Projects’ could be operationalised at the earliest.

Aziz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fostering a peaceful neighbourhood in order to achieve its economic and development objectives. The two leaders welcomed the continuing cooperation between Pakistan and China for the promotion of peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.

This was Wang’s first official visit to Pakistan as the Foreign Minister and its main purpose was to prepare for President Xi Jinping’s upcoming trip to the country at an early date this year.

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