ISLAMABAD: China has given assurance to bolster ties with ally Pakistan as High-ranking Chinese politician Yang Jiechi commenced his two-day trip to Islamabad with a meeting with Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa.
Mr Yang, is considered a personal representative of President Xi Jinping because of his position in Chinese hierarchy. He is leading a high-level delegation comprising vice ministers for foreign affairs and commerce, vice chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and deputy secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on the visit that is taking place at a crucial juncture in bilateral ties.
“He assured to play his role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels,” the ISPR said after Mr Yang met Gen Bajwa at the General Headquarters.
Beijing is concerned about the issue of more than Rs300 billion receivables of the Chinese companies operating in Pakistan, and April 26 attack in which three Chinese language teachers were killed in Karachi.
Media reports suggest that Chinese, are pushing for Majeed Brigade, the banned Balochistan Liberation Army’s Fidayeen (suicide) unit, to be listed on the UNSC 1267 Terror Sanctions list. The group is seen as the mastermind behind most of the attacks on Chinese.
Mr Yang also met Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
“The two sides discussed entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the FO said in a statement.
During the visit, Mr Yang will also call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.