Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday said that Pakistan is a "priority" in China's neighbourhood diplomacy as he met his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan who ensured him that his government will do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and projects in his country.
Li, the second-ranking leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) after Chinese President Xi Jinping, has expressed China's willingness to strengthen all-dimensional practical cooperation with Pakistan, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Khan is in Beijing at the invitation of the Chinese government and attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics on Friday.
China always takes Pakistan as a "priority" in its neighbourhood diplomacy and supports Pakistan's pursuit of prosperity, Li said, highlighting the importance China attaches to its close strategic ties with Pakistan.
Li said that China supports its enterprises to invest in Pakistan and appreciates the Pakistani government's efforts to safeguard the safety of Chinese firms and personnel in the country.
Li, in his meeting with Khan, said that China will actively consider expanding the import of agricultural products from Pakistan.
Khan said that the "all-weather" strategic cooperative partnership with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.
Pakistan is firmly committed to the flagship project of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and will continue strengthening cooperation in multiple fields, he said, adding that the country will do its utmost to ensure the safety of the Chinese people and projects in Pakistan.
Khan is also expected to meet President Xi during which he may discuss the state of "all-weather ties", the problems faced by the President's pet initiative, the $60 billion CPEC and Chinese loans and investments to shore up Pakistan's sagging economy.
The security of thousands of Chinese personnel working in the host of CPEC projects remained a concern for China in view of the several attacks at different places.
Ahead of his China visit, Khan's government has approved a $11.6 million compensation for the families of Chinese engineers who were killed and wounded in a terrorist attack at the Dasu Dam hydropower project last year, according to Pakistan media reports.
Thirteen people, including nine Chinese citizens, were killed in a bomb attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers at Dasu hydropower project in Pakistan last year.
Before his visit to Beijing, Khan also ordered the removal of bureaucratic obstacles delaying CPEC projects to address the criticism of the Chinese investors.
India has protested to China over the 3,000 km long CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Khan, in an article in the Chinese official media ahead of his visit, wrote that the "safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan remains our top priority".
"Our people and state institutions are determined to safeguard CPEC from the detractors of Pakistan-China friendship and bring to justice those responsible for harming our interests," he wrote. On Friday, Pakistan signed a new agreement with China to begin the second phase of the CPEC.
On Friday, Khan held a virtual meeting with He Lifeng, the Chairman of China's apex planning body -- the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), to discuss the expansion of Chinese investments in Pakistan after which the agreement has signed.
The agreement aims to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), promote industrialisation and development of economic zones, and initiate, plan, execute and monitor projects, both in public as well as private sector, Pakistan's state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency reported.
On Saturday, Khan attended a banquet hosted by Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan to the over 30 heads of governments and international organisations who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The opening ceremony was boycotted by the US and its allies over the allegation of human rights violation against Uygur Muslims of the country's Xinjiang province.
Indian diplomats in Beijing also skipped the event in protest against China's provocative move on Wednesday fielding Qi Fabao, the regimental commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) -- who was injured during the June 2020 border clash with Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh -- as a torchbearer for the Games Torch Relay.
Khan also met President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Beijing, according to the Pakistan media.
Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that Kashmir and Afghanistan were the centrepiece of Prime Minister Khan's meetings with both the leaders.
"Prime Minister Imran Khan's meeting with Chinese prime minister Li has ended. It was followed by a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat. Kashmir and Afghanistan were the main topics of discussion in both the meetings," Pakistan's Geo TV quoted Chaudhry as saying.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
