KARACHI: Amid increasing instability and uncertainty taking hold across the globe, China has said that it will continue to support Pakistan in safeguarding its territorial integrity and national security.

The affirmation came during Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Pakistan, where he met with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and his counterpart Ishaq Dar, among other leaders.

According to a readout of his meeting with the army chief, issued by China’s foreign ministry following the visit, Wang also praised the country’s military as the ballast of national stability and a staunch defender of China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation.

“The Pakistani military has always supported both sides in earnestly implementing the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepening strategic mutual trust at a higher level, and jointly building an upgraded Version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” the statement quoted the foreign minister as saying.

“At present, profound changes unseen in a century are accelerating, with unstable and uncertain factors significantly increasing. Promoting a strong China-Pakistan relationship is conducive to maintaining regional peace and stability,” he said.

“China supports Pakistan in resolutely cracking down on all forms of terrorism and creating a secure and favourable environment for national development and bilateral cooperation,” the readout of his meeting with the PM quoted him as saying.

Wang noted that China had always prioritised Pakistan in its neighbourhood diplomacy, adding that “China will continue to support Pakistan in safeguarding its territorial integrity and national security, and welcomes Pakistan to play a greater role in international affairs”.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry statement, both the army chief and the prime minister vowed to ensure security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan, and appreciated Beijing’s valuable support in the long-term economic and social development of Pakistan.

“The Pakistani military is willing to actively promote counterterrorism and security cooperation between the two countries, and will continue to make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan,” the army chief was quoted as saying.

Separately, in a briefing earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign minister noted that China would work with Pakistan to jointly develop the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), terming their all-weather strategic partnership “unbreakable”.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2025