Pakistan vows ‘targeted steps’ to protect Chinese citizens and investments
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani side will take targeted steps to strengthen security measures and cooperation to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan. It was stated in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and China after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the neighbouring country to mark the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic ties. “China supports Pakistan in its continued and firm fight against terrorism,” read the statement. Both sides called on the international community to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation, and reaffirmed their firm opposition to applying double standards on counter-terrorism or to politicizing and instrumentalize counter-terrorism. Both sides agreed to firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. The two sides agreed to jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive global economic order. Both sides agreed that it is essential to firmly uphold the victorious outcomes of World War II, and oppose any attempt to revive fascism and militarism. The two sides expressed support for the postwar international order underpinned by international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and other principles of international law for the maintenance of world peace and security and safeguard historical truth and international justice. “Pakistan supports China’s initiative of establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, believing that this represents a concrete step toward promoting the development of artificial intelligence for good and for all, and will work with China to advance global governance and international cooperation on artificial intelligence.” Both sides reiterated opposition to any unilateral actions