Chinese FM meets Asian counterparts in Myanmar on ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mahmood Ali, Sri Lankan counterpart Gamini Lakshman Peiris and Pakistani prime minister's advisor on foreign affairs and national security Sartaj Aziz in Nay Pyi Taw to enhance bilateral relations.

During his talks with Ali on the sidelines of the series of Foreign Ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation on Sunday, Wang said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a successful visit to China last June, during which leaders of the two countries reached extensive consensus on economy and trade, connectivity, technology, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and made important planning for the development of bilateral relations in the next step.

The two sides should translate the consensus reached by the two leaders into concrete results, intensify exchanges at various levels, deepen practical cooperation in trade, agriculture and industrial parks, press ahead with the building of the Bangladesh- China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, enhance people-to-people exchanges and enable people of the two countries to benefit more from China-Bangladesh relations, the Chinese foreign minister said.

Ali said that Bangladesh and China enjoy time-honored friendship with a tradition of mutual respect and mutual support. Continuous development of bilateral relations meets the common aspiration of all people in Bangladesh. China and Bangladesh will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year. Together with China, Bangladesh stands ready to take the opportunity to bring Bangladesh-China relationship to a new height, he added.

In his meeting with Peiris on the same day, Wang said current China-Sri Lanka relationship maintains a sound momentum of growth. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited China for the 4th CICA summit and had a successful meeting with President Xi Jinping. Major progress has been achieved in the Joint Feasibility Study on China- Sri Lanka Free Trade Area and infrastructure construction cooperation.

Both sides should maintain high-level interactions, deepen practical cooperation in areas like economy, trade and infrastructure construction, jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and foster new highlights of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Wang added.

Peiris said that the friendship between China and Sri Lanka has not only withstood the test of time, but also has grown stronger, and now stands as a fine example of mutually beneficial relationship between developing countries. Sri Lanka supports the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and will make positive efforts in this regard.

Sri Lanka is ready to work with China to expand bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, national defense and security, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and push for new progress in the Sri Lanka-China strategic partnership of cooperation, the Sri Lankan foreign minister added.

During the Chinese prime minister's meeting with Sargaj Aziz, top security and foreign affairs advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister, Wang said that China-Pakistan relationship has maintained a strong momentum of development this year. Leaders of the two countries reached extensive consensus on further solidifying bilateral relations and agreed to press ahead with strategic collaboration and practical cooperation and to build a community of shared destiny between China and Pakistan.

Wang said the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is making smooth progress and entering into the phase of implementation. The two sides should keep high-level exchanges as the strategic guidance to bilateral relations, deepen practical cooperation in infrastructure, energy, transportation and other areas, make down-to-earth progress in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, increase counter-terrorism cooperation and uphold common security.

Aziz said that the community of shared destiny between Pakistan and China serves the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. Pakistan is ready to join hands with China to intensify high-level exchanges, boost strategic mutual trust, accelerate the building of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, fight terrorism and bring benefits to the two peoples.