By Mashal Khan 

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said that Islamabad will continue to firmly support China on all core issues of its national interest, including Taiwan is in Jiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.

Speaking at a joint news conference along with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Mr Qin Gang here at Islamabad, Zardari said Pakistan and China have always supported each other on issues of core national interest in both bilateral engagements with other countries and in multilateral forums. 

“We greatly appreciate China's steadfast support on all our issues of core national interests, including the principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he said.

 “In our talks today. We had an in-depth exchange of views on the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China. We agreed on the significance of this partnership for the mutual benefit of our two nations in the face of new developments,” Zardari added.

 He added that their two countries have stood with each other for decades and would continue to stand with each others in the decades to come.

Pakistani Foreign Minister said that they also agreed on the importance of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and reiterated our abiding commitment to its high-quality development. 

“As you are aware that this year we marked the completion of the decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remains a shining example of the Belt and Road cooperation which has accelerated socio-economic development, job creation and improvement of people's livelihoods in Pakistan. 

He added that CEPC remains a win-win economic initiative open to all investors around the world. Pakistan remains profoundly grateful to China for its generous and timely assistance. 

“As we continue to grapple with the headwinds in the global economy. Pakistan-China friendship is irreversible. The mutual warmth and trust between the people of our two countries is a shining example of multicultural cooperation.”

Bilawal said that Pakistan, China friendship is a historic reality comes consensus choice of the two nations and Pakistan remains against block politics or great power competition of any kind. 

“We look forward to working together with all countries to address our common challenges of development and connectivity. We are committed to remaining engaged with China to promote South-South cooperation, especially in light of emerging global concerns, like human induced climate change.”

 The two top diplomates noted that peace and stability in Afghanistan remains vital for social and economic development, connectivity and prosperity in the region. 

“We will continue to work together with all stakeholders for peaceful for peaceful, stable, prosperous and united Afghanistan,” Bilawal said.

However, Pakistan state-run media who broadcasted the news conference didn’t show the Chinese top diplomate address to the news conference.