BEIJING: China is willing to cooperate with Pakistan in industry, agriculture and mining, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Thursday, according to a readout of the meeting released by Wang’s ministry.

Beijing would continue to support Pakistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and combating terrorism, Wang told Dar, adding that China would continue to give priority to Pakistan in its regional diplomacy.

Both countries should join hands to safeguard the multilateral trading system and oppose unilateral bullying, and upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said.

Wang, on a five-day tour of South Asia, has visited India and Afghanistan, mending and consolidating ties with China’s neighbours to the south days before a leaders’ summit in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a 10-nation Eurasian security and political grouping whose members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran.

At a press briefing on Thursday, Wang also welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to attend both the summit and activities to mark the formal surrender of Japan at the end of World War Two, which will feature a massive military parade in Beijing.

During Thursday’s meeting with Dar, Wang again urged Pakistan to “effectively safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and organisations in Pakistan”. “China appreciates Pakistan’s unremitting efforts and great sacrifices made in combating terrorism,” Wang said, according to a Chinese ministry statement.—Reuters