China, Pakistan vow to build 'community of shared destiny'(2)

DEEPENING CHINA-PAKISTAN COOPERATION

After the talks, the two sides issued a joint statement on deepening China-Pakistan strategic and economic cooperation, in which they pledged to "translate the high level of mutual trust and cooperation that exists" into practical cooperation which can deliver prosperity to the people to both countries.

The two presidents urged relevant offices on both sides to speed up work on the construction of a China-Pakistan economic corridor.

The project connecting Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the southwestern Pakistani port of Gwadar was proposed in an agreement between the two countries reached during Premier Li's visit to Pakistan in May.

Experts forecast that the project might include road and railway, in addition to an optical-fiber link and even a pipeline.

"It was agreed that the economic corridor, by combining China and Pakistan's respective development strategy, would be conducive to their goals of developing the economy and improving people's livelihood, as well as bring benefits to development and prosperity in the region," said Wednesday's joint statement.

The Chinese side also assured Pakistan of its full support in helping the latter to address its energy deficit, which was a major obstacle to Pakistan's socio-economic development.

"The Chinese side will continue to encourage and support China's state-owned enterprises and private companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan's conventional and renewable energy sectors," said the statement.

The two sides also agreed to step up cooperation in areas, such as agriculture, health, education and public transport, which have a direct bearing on people's lives.

They maintained that defense cooperation was an important part of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperation, and agreed to further enhance practical cooperation in defense technology.

Both sides agreed on celebrating China-Pakistan Year of Friendly Exchanges in 2015.

"The two countries should use this opportunity to expand their youth delegation programmes while increasing exchanges between parliamentarians, academics, media persons and artists from both sides," said the statement.

Recognizing the important role that language plays in bringing people together, the two sides also agreed to facilitate the establishment of more Confucius Institutes in Pakistan.

This year, China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language will send 60 Chinese teachers to Pakistan and invite 140 Pakistani teachers to China for training, according to the statement.

The two sides also reached consensus on an early finalization of the Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons/Offenders.

China and Pakistan agreed to work "in close harmony" on major regional and international matters as well as global issues, and continue to work with mutual coordination and cooperation on important regional forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

They reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral arms control and non-proliferation efforts.

The two countries agreed to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political reconciliation process in Afghanistan, and continue to work closely with the international community for the promotion of peace and stability in the country.

According to the statement, Pakistan recognized the East Turkistan Islamic Movement as a terrorist organization, which poses a common threat to the peace and stability of China and Pakistan.

"Pakistan will continue to support China's efforts in combatting the three evils of terrorism, extremism and separatism," said the statement.

Pakistan appreciated China's forthright position on Pakistan's counter-terrorism strategy and efforts, and China lauded the sacrifice rendered by the Pakistan side in fighting the global scourge of terrorism, said the statement.

According to the statement, Hussain invited Xi to visit Pakistan at an early date and the Chinese president accepted the invitation.