Pakistan and China on Saturday agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields, including counter-terrorism and border management, to work together to prevent smuggling of drugs, arms and other illegal goods.
A meeting was held between the high-level Chinese delegation led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of Political and Legal Affairs Chen Mengguo.
In the meeting, Pakistan-China relations, especially issues of mutual interest with Xinjiang, were discussed.
The Chinese delegation included the Deputy Secretary of the Xinjiang Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Committee, the Executive Director General of the Police and the Vice President of the Xinjiang Police Academy.
Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha, Special Secretary Waqas Ali Mehmood and Additional Secretary Nazar Muhammad Buzdar were also present on this occasion.
Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the Chinese delegation on arrival at the Ministry of Interior. In the meeting, matters of mutual interest related to Pakistan-China relations, especially Xinjiang province, were discussed.
Both sides agreed to conduct joint police and paramilitary exercises in Gilgit-Baltistan or Xinjiang and train GB police officers at the Xinjiang Police Academy.
During the meeting, it was also agreed that comprehensive measures will be taken against terrorism, which is a global problem.
It was decided in the meeting that a Pakistani delegation led by the Home Secretary will visit Xinjiang soon to enhance mutual cooperation. The Chinese minister also invited the interior minister to visit Xinjiang.
Mohsin Naqvi said that Xinjiang is of utmost importance for Pakistan in its relations with China, which is not only Pakistan’s neighbor but also our 600 km long border with the province.
He said that the Pakistan China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project also passes through Xinjiang while Pakistan wants to completely eliminate the smuggling of drugs, arms and other illegal goods.
The Interior Minister said that the visit of the Pakistani delegation to Xinjiang will open new avenues for strengthening mutual cooperation.
The Chinese minister expressed his desire to increase relations with Pakistan in all fields and said that terrorism is a common problem and Xinjiang has been suffering from it for many years.
He said that Pakistan can benefit from Xinjiang’s experience in counter-terrorism.
