Islamabad, Oct 27: Chinese Ambassador Emphasizes Regional Cooperation and Security at SCO and BRICS Summits. Jiang Zaidong, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, has emphasized the growing and changing relationship between China and Pakistan, calling it unique and unmatched.
Speaking to a small group of reporters present at the Chinese Embassy, he emphasized the importance of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the 16th BRICS Summit, which attracted international attention, including from Pakistan, and was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024.
Ambassador Jiang referred to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which was founded with China’s participation 23 years ago and has since grown from 6 to 26 member states, representing a sizable fraction of the global population.
He emphasized that President Xi has continuously supported the growth of the SCO and that, during this year’s Astana Summit, Xi had marketed the organization as a forum for mutual trust, unity, and regional stability.
The Chinese ambassador also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for attending the Astana Summit, where he spoke about significant projects meant to accomplish shared objectives.Key conclusions from the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, which took place in Pakistan from October 15–16, 2024, were underlined by Ambassador Jiang.
According to what he understood, Chinese Premier Li Qiang put forth a number of initiatives that were centered around four key areas: strengthening people-to-people exchanges, proactively addressing significant risks, expanding practical cooperation among member nations, and building on the agreement made at previous meetings.
Ambassador Jiang went on to say that these initiatives are in line with President Xi’s larger goal of promoting security and prosperity in the area, as was stated during the Astana Summit.
The ambassador turned to the BRICS Summit and praised the group’s expansion, calling it a “milestone in the evolution of the international situation.” He reiterated China’s determination to promote closer cooperation with Pakistan under the SCO and BRICS frameworks.
The envoy stated China’s intention to fortify support for Pakistan in global forums in answer to a query about Pakistan’s possible participation in BRICS.He also emphasized the significance of people-to-people and media-to-media interactions between the two countries, pointing out that China had arranged multiple media delegation visits to highlight developments on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other important projects.
Ambassador Jiang emphasized that CPEC has reached a new stage of growth, with collaboration spreading into cutting-edge industries including renewable energy and electric vehicles.The ambassador reported that during Premier Li Qiang’s visit, bilateral discussions had produced tangible outcomes, such as the signing of several cooperation agreements across multiple domains, with a particular emphasis on security cooperation.
He emphasized the significance of further cooperation to safeguard Chinese citizens and projects in Pakistan, restating President Xi’s position that “security is the guarantee for development. “The envoy urged the Pakistani government to hold those responsible for terrorist acts against Chinese nationals accountable and recognized the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s military and police forces in counterterrorism efforts.
He emphasized the need for tough action against terrorist organizations that carry out these acts, saying, “The Chinese who come to Pakistan are helping build its infrastructure; they are innocent and their families deserve protection.”In closing, Ambassador Jiang reaffirmed China’s unwavering commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s counterterrorism capabilities and demanded prompt action to protect Chinese nationals and investments in Pakistan.
