India and Pakistan are on a virtual war footing after the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Beijing had previously stood by Pakistan in this tense situation. Now, the country is saying that China will stand by Pakistan in all situations.
Chinese Consul General in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Zhao Shiren said this, according to a report by Pakistani media outlet The News International on Thursday (May 1).
The media outlet reports that Chinese Consul General in Lahore, Zhao Shiren, said that China will stand by Pakistan in all situations. However, he stressed that war is not a solution; Pakistan and India should seek a path to peace through dialogue and diplomacy.
He said this at a high-level meeting with leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) central Punjab unit in Lahore. The meeting was held at the residence of PPP central Punjab finance secretary Ahmad Jawad Rana.
Zhao said China-Pakistan relations have a long history of strategic cooperation, economic development and security infrastructure. He made it clear, “China has been, is, and will be with Pakistan in the future—especially in the areas of security, strategic cooperation and economic development.”
The two-and-a-half-hour meeting saw frank discussions on a range of national and regional issues. Zhao said the China-Pakistan friendship is deeply rooted. “Every Chinese citizen loves Pakistan, and Pakistanis show the same love and respect for China,” he said.
The meeting also had a frank discussion on the international and regional geopolitical situation. The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations and enhance multilateral cooperation for regional stability and prosperity.
At the end of the meeting, both countries reiterated that China-Pakistan friendship will remain unbreakable forever. Zhao said that Pakistan is not just a neighbor or an ally, but a tested friend to China. He added, “Mutual respect and strategic cooperation are the foundation of our relationship.”