Xi Jinping asks Pakistan to guarantee ‘safety of Chinese personnel and projects’

The request to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif follows a series of attacks on Chinese citizens, the most recent of which happened in March

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President Xi Jinping welcomes Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:11pm, 7 Jun 2024Updated: 9:29pm, 7 Jun 2024

China is willing to expand and upgrade the country’s economic ties with Pakistan but hopes Islamabad can create a “safe, stable, and predictable” business environment, President Xi Jinping told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday.

The trip to Beijing was Sharif’s first visit to China since starting his second term as prime minister in March and comes as the country’s economy continues to struggle with the impact of a debt crisis, inflation and fiscal deficits as well as ongoing political instability.

Xi said China would continue to promote high-quality construction with Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative, and pledged to expand cooperation in areas such as “agriculture, mining, social and livelihood affairs in accordance with the local conditions”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

He also vowed to upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying the two countries would seek to cooperate on innovation and green industry.

However, he added that Pakistan should continue to “create a safe, stable and predictable business environment and effectively guarantee the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and organisations”.