Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday as both sides reaffirmed bilateral consensus to continue work on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The meeting between the two leaders was held here at the historic Great Hall of the People. The two leaders were accompanied by the Federal Ministers and senior officials.

The two leaders affirmed their consensus on up-gradation of the CPEC and the development of the mega project in the second phase.

During the meeting, the prime minister briefed President Xi on Pakistan’s economic reforms and growth agenda, industrial development, agricultural modernization and regional connectivity.

PM Shehbaz asserted Pakistan’s commitment to foster synergy between the development strategies of the two countries through close coordination. ON the occasion, China, Pakistan agree to upgrade CPEC, advance development in second phase.

The meeting was marked by traditional warmth reflective of the ironclad friendship and close strategic ties between the two countries.

The prime minister thanked President Xi Jinping for the warm and gracious welcome accorded to him and his delegation in China. He recalled the historic visit of the President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in 2015 when the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was formally operationalized marking a new chapter in the bilateral relationship.

The two leaders reaffirmed the time-honored all-weather strategic partnership and expressed the resolve to further deepen cooperation across diverse domains ranging from political and security to economic, trade, and people-to- people exchanges.

They also exchanged views on regional and global developments including Afghanistan, Palestine and South Asia including the serious human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Commending President Xi’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), the prime minister underscored that as the flagship project of BRI, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had significantly contributed to Pakistan’s socio-economic development. He underlined Pakistan’s commitment and full support for safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan.

He underlined that the government’s agenda for people centric, socio-economic development resonates with the concept of ‘shared prosperity’ embraced by China.

President Xi Jinping also hosted a banquet in honour of the PM, where another round of discussion on matters of mutual interests was held.