ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the 21st century should be an era of accelerated development and revitalization for Asia and even more so for South Asia during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Thursday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that after visiting India, Afghanistan and Pakistan on this trip, he is deeply convinced that South Asia has huge development potential and sufficient driving force for further growth.
Though India, Afghanistan and Pakistan have different national conditions, they all recognize that development is the top priority and the greatest common divisor for the three countries and other countries in the region, Wang said.
He said a peaceful, stable, developing and prosperous South Asia serves the common interests of all parties and meets the common expectations of people in South Asian countries.
The three countries are ready to enhance good-neighborly friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and seek mutual benefit and win-win results with China, their largest neighbor, Wang said.
Facing the pressure of unilateral and bullying practices, the three countries all believe that it is necessary to uphold multilateralism, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and work for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Wang added.
Noting that China will be a trustworthy partner for South Asian countries, Wang said that China and South Asian countries are natural partners and have broad space for cooperation.
The relations between China and Pakistan, between China and India, and between China and other neighboring countries do not target any third party, nor will they be influenced by any third party, he said.
Noting that Pakistan became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this year, Wang said China has one more partner upholding fairness and justice in the Security Council.
Both China and Pakistan will maintain close coordination and collaboration to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the vast number of developing countries and the Global South, he said.
