ISLAMABAD

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Thursday with Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi and pledged to strengthen ties between Islamabad and Beijing.

Reaffirming Pakistan's unwavering support for China on core issues, Sharif reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to deepening the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” with Beijing, according to a statement from his office.

Sharif also expressed Pakistan’s desire to expand cooperation with China on trade, investment, Information and Communication Technology, agriculture, industrialization, mining, and other key sectors.

He underscored the importance of the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and its vital role in enhancing regional connectivity.

Wang said Beijing was “keen” to elevate relations with Pakistan to “new heights of cooperation and collaboration.”

He praised Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity and assured that China would continue working closely with Islamabad to promote regional peace, development, and stability.

Wang and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, co-chaired the sixth round of strategic dialogue at the Foreign Ministry earlier Thursday.

Wang also met President Asif Ali Zardari, who thanked China for its support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national development, and its principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Sharif is visiting China at the end of August to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as well as events related to the end of World War II, in Beijing.