Peaceful Afghanistan vital for regional development: FM Bilawal Bhutto

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasised on Saturday the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for the region’s ‘socioeconomic development and prosperity’ and vowed to work together with all stakeholders for a peaceful Afghanistan.

The foreign minister was addressing a joint presser with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang following the 4th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Islamabad, Bilawal said: “We will continue to work together with all stakeholders for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and united Afghanistan”.

He further stated that Pakistan and China support each other on “issues of core national interests” in both bilateral engagement with other countries and at multilateral forums.

FM Bilawal Bhutto said that Pakistan remains profoundly grateful to China for its generous and timely assistance as “we continue to grapple with the headwinds in the global economy”.

FM Bilawal Bhutto said the partnership between the two countries has grown over the years and enjoys consensus across generations and political divide.

 “We discussed an in-depth exchange of views on the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation.  We agreed to the significance of this partnership for the mutual benefit of our two nations in the face of new developments,” he noted.

The foreign minister said both the countries have stood with each other for decades and will continue to stand with each other in the decades to come.

“The mutual warmth and trust between the peoples of two countries is a shining example of multi-cultural cooperation. This friendship is a historic reality and consensus choice of two nations,” he said.

Moreover, the foreign minister emphatically stated Pakistan’s stance against bloc politics or greater power competition of any kind.

Earlier, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari welcomed Chinese FM Qin Gang on his visit to the foreign office in Islamabad.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar was also present during the visit of Chinese FM Qin Gang.

A trilateral session of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan will be held in Islamabad today. The session will discuss Afghanistan’s situation and also focus on mutual trade.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who is in Pakistan for a two-day visit, met President Arif Alvi and vowed to strengthen strategic ties between the two countries, including in the fields of connectivity, information technology, and agriculture.