Pakistan, China vow to expedite work on economic corridor

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Feb. 13, 2015. Pakistan and China vowed to expedite work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor during a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Friday. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 13 -- Pakistan and China vowed to expedite work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor during a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Friday.

China has been a trustworthy friend of Pakistan, and friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy, said Sharif.

Pakistan is looking forward to welcoming a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping at an early date in 2015, the Pakistan-China Year of Friendly Exchanges, the prime minister said, adding that his government believes the visit will bring the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new level.

He said Pakistan attaches great importance to the Pakistan- China Economic Corridor and is willing to work vigorously with China to build the corridor and get early harvest.

For his part, the Chinese foreign minister extended great appreciation to Sharif for his unremitting efforts to promote China-Pakistan ties.

China and Pakistan are "iron brothers," he said, adding the iron brotherhood between the two countries "will never go rusty."

The upcoming visit by President Xi to Pakistan this year will provide a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral relations, said Wang.

He said the two countries should push forward both economic cooperation and security cooperation at the same time. China and Pakistan should boost economic cooperation in key fields such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, port, energy, transportation infrastructure and industries while jointly combating terrorism to maintain peace and stability of the region, said Wang.