LAHORE: China is expediting work on CPEC phase-II to materialise the dream of a shared future in the new era for the benefit of the two nations, says Chinese Consul General in Lahore Zhao Shiren.

“Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and Beijing hopes to work with Islamabad to reach new heights of iron-clad friendship,” Mr Zhao said at an Iftar dinner hosted by Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR) Chairman Muhammad Mehdi on Saturday.

Iranian Consul General in Lahore Mehra Movahed said his country stood fully prepared to expand and deepen its all-out ties with Pakistan. Turkish Consul General in Lahore Durmus Bastug felicitated the PML-N-led coalition government, saying fraternal relations between Islamabad and Ankara would deepen and expand in the new era.

He said that following in the footsteps of glorious congeniality between the two countries, Turkiye would always stand by Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2024