ISLAMABAD, June 29: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that friendship with China is and will remain the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and it has been a factor for peace and stability in the region.

Speaking to Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday, Mr Sharif said he was looking forward to his visit to China next week which he hoped would help strengthen bilateral ties.

The premier said he had set up a high-level task force headed by a federal minister to explore avenues for enhancing economic cooperation with China.

He conveyed his deepest condolences to the government and people of China and the bereaved families of those Chinese tourists who had been killed in Gilgit-Baltistan in a recent militant attack. The perpetrators would be brought to justice, he assured the ambassador.

APP adds: Mr Sharif said that Gwadar Port project was the hallmark of Pakistan-China strategic partnership which would bring economic dividends for both countries.

He expressed satisfaction that Pakistan’s and China’s shared vision of establishing a ‘long-term economic corridor’ was moving forward.

He said Pakistan was committed to taking bilateral relations with China to higher levels and it greatly valued China’s economic support and cooperation.