By The World Ambassador TWA ______ Pakistan and china reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen strategic cooperation in key areas, including the economy, investment, and regional connectivity. The agreement was reached at a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and President Asif Ali Zardari at the presidency in Islamabad today. Both the sides emphasized the need to expedite the implementation of CPEC projects. President Asif Ali Zardari said friendship with china is a vital component of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy and highlighted the importance of exploring new avenues for cooperation between the two countries. He said there is further potential to expand Pak-China relations and stressed the need to enhance connectivity through all-weather roads to strengthen trade and people-to-people ties. The President said Chinese companies should benefit from opportunities in Pakistan by investing in the Pakistan Stock Exchange. He said time has come to fully capitalize on china’s economic growth through cpec and Gwadar port adding he will visit china in November and looks forward to reconnecting with old friends and holding discussions to further strengthen relations. He said all necessary measures will be taken to enhance the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. The president thanked china for its support on the Jammu and Kashmir issue and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for china on all fundamental matters, including Tibet and the South China Sea. The Chinese Premier said Pakistan and China are good brothers, neighbors, partners, and friends and under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, Pak-China strategic cooperation will continue to deepen. He said both countries have consistently supported each other, regardless of global challenges and will continue their cooperation to take their partnership to new heights. Prime minister li qiang emphasized the need to accelerate the progress of development projects under cpec saying china will continue to assist chinese companies investing in pakistan. He hoped pak-china relations will continue to grow stronger in the future as he appreciated pakistan’s firm support for china’s core issues, including the “one china” policy, taiwan, tibet, hong kong, xinjiang, and the south china sea. He reiffirmed that china will continue to support pakistan’s regional integrity, sovereignty, and prosperity.