In a telephone conversation with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Qureshi said that apart from committing egregious violations of human rights in occupied Kashmir, India was seeking to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory. Qureshi also briefed his Chinese counterpart about the repeated violations committed by India across the Line of Control as well as targeted killing of civilians.

"In the face of Indian provocations, Pakistan was exercising restraint," Qureshi said, adding that disputes in the region should be resolved through peaceful means and agreed on mechanisms rather than resorting to unilateral, illegal and coercive measures reflected in India's decision of August 5, 2019. Speaking about the recent terrorist attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi, Qureshi emphasized that the attack was supported by anti-Pakistan elements seeking to undermine Pakistan's economic development and stability. Moreover, Qureshi underscored that Pakistan and China are 'All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners' and had preserved the tradition of expressing solidarity, mutual assistance and mutual support to each other in the face of common challenges.

He reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to the 'One China policy' and firmly supports China on its core interests, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang. Yi briefed Qureshi about the regional situation and lauded Pakistan's sincere and relentless efforts to promote peace and stability in the region and thanked Pakistan for the support it has extended to China during difficult and challenging times.

According to the Foreign Office, both sides also reaffirmed their resolve to support each other at multilateral institutions and hoped that those institutions would foster a spirit of objectivity and coherence in advancing their goals. The two leaders expressed determination to promote peace and development in Afghanistan, adding that the next meeting of China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue would take place at the earliest to facilitate peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

Both sides reaffirmed the resolve to take measures aimed at the earliest possible economic recovery in the aftermath of coronavirus. Speaking about the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Qureshi said they would become the hub of trade and economic activity, sustainable development and greater people-to-people exchanges.

Yi underscored that CPEC was a flagship project of BRI and that the second phase of CPEC will complement Pakistan's efforts aimed at job creation, enhancing agricultural productivity, reducing poverty, and massive economic recovery. He also emphasized that, in the aftermath of COVID-19, Beijing was taking swift, practical, and demonstrable measures to promote economic recovery in the region.

Thanking Pakistan for supporting Beijing's idea of 'Health Silk Road', Yi said it would play a major role in addressing the region's social and economic needs. Both sides resolved to implement the consensus reached by the leadership of the two countries to deepen strategic consultation and coordination at all levels so as to collectively promote shared goals of peace and stability.

They decided to have a face-to-face meeting soon to discuss the challenges confronted by the region, the Foreign Office added.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan