Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to President Asif Ali Zardari on the occasion of Pakistan Day, saying he is ready to work with the president to build an even closer Sino-Pak community with a shared future in the new era.

President Xi highlighted the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan this year, as well as the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan.

He expressed hope that both sides would carry forward their traditional friendship, enhance strategic communication and alignment of development strategies, and move forward together on their respective paths to modernisation.

He lauded the Pakistani government on steadfastly safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, overcoming various risks and challenges, and advancing national development, as well as making contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

As a close friend, China is sincerely pleased with Pakistan’s development achievements, Xi added.

‘Deepening Pak-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership’

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on also extended his congratulations on Pakistan Day in a message to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Xinhua News reported.

Over the past years, the Pakistani government and people have overcome various risks and challenges, achieved economic and social development, and played an increasingly important role in international and regional affairs, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in a congratulatory

Wang expressed willingness to work with Dar to follow through on the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and deepen the Pak-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

Also on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.