Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday offered Beijing’s support for Pakistan and India to improve their strained relations during his meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan here, China’s state-run media reported.
During their meeting on the sidelines of the ShanghaiCooperation Organisation Summit, Xi told Khan that China “supportsPakistan and India in improving their relations”, state-run Xinhua newsagency reported.
Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of cross-borderterrorism emanating from Pakistan during his talks with President Xi and saidIndia expects “concrete action” by Islamabad to create an atmosphere”free of terror” for the resumption of dialogue.
During his talks with Khan, Xi also offered China’s supportfor Pakistan in counter terrorism efforts.
China is willing to help Pakistan within its capabilities,Xi said, adding that China supports Pakistan in implementing its nationalcounter-terrorism plan to the end and is ready to help the country strengthenits counter-terrorism capacity.
Stressing that the two sides should well maintain,consolidate, and develop their all-weather partnership and all-dimensionalcooperation, Xi said that China and Pakistan should carry out in-depthcommunication on issues of common concern, so as to make joint efforts tosafeguard regional and international security and stability.
President Xi also called on the two countries to take theupgrade of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement as an opportunity tovigorously expand bilateral trade.
He also urged the two countries to foster a closer communitywith a shared future against complicated regional and international situations.
Xi noted that it has been his third meeting with thePakistani prime minister in the past eight months.This, he said, fully demonstrates the high levelof the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.