ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Taiwan is an "inalienable part of China's territory."
Speaking at the weekly press briefing in the capital, the FO spokesperson cited a joint communiqué from the seventh round of Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue held January 4 in Beijing.
"Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to One-China principle and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," Andrabi said. Pakistan also supports China's efforts toward national reunification on issues concerning Xinjiang, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.
Backs counterterrorism efforts
The FO spokesperson revealed that China pledged steadfast support for Pakistan's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
Beijing praised Pakistan's counterterrorism measures and recognized "the significant contribution and huge sacrifices that Pakistan has made in combating terrorism over many years."
On Kashmir, China said the dispute "is a leftover from the history and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements."
Economic corridor expansion
Both countries agreed to build on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of the Belt and Road Initiative project. They will align development plans across defense, security, economy, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
The two sides agreed to oppose unilateral actions and talked about the need to maintain peace and stability in South Asia through dialogue and consultations.
Afghanistan security concerns
Andrabi stated that Pakistan and China agreed for "more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organization based in Afghanistan which continue to pose serious threats to regional peace and global security."
They agreed to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory for attacks against other countries. Both nations will continue cooperation through the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue and the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation mechanism.
Kashmir self-determination day
Pakistan observed Right to Self-Determination Day for Jammu and Kashmir on January 5, marking the 1949 UN Security Council resolution that enshrined the right of Kashmiris to determine their future through a UN-supervised plebiscite.
"The Kashmiri people have been denied this right by India for over decades," Andrabi said. "The illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India stands as a stark tragedy of our time."
Andrabi said thousands of Kashmiri leaders and civil society members remain imprisoned, including Musarrat Alam, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Asiya Andrabi and Dr Qasim Fakhto. He said Yasin Malik was convicted after "a sham trial," while journalist Irfan Mehraj is jailed for reprisals by Indian authorities.
Pakistan condemned India's August 5, 2019, actions as "a blatant attempt to consolidate the illegal occupation through demographic engineering" that violates international law.
"Pakistan will continue to extend its unwavering moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for the right to self-determination," Andrabi said.
Regional diplomacy
The FO spokesperson stated that the country’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held phone calls with foreign ministers from Myanmar, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates this week. The talks covered bilateral relations and regional issues, including developments in Gaza, Somalia, and Yemen.
The foreign minister spoke twice with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, welcoming Saudi Arabia's statement on Yemen. Dar stated that regional parties "must avoid any escalatory move" and resolve issues through dialogue.
Andrabi also mentioned Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikhail Jabarov discussing a $2 billion investment in Pakistan with Dar. Both sides agreed to finalize mechanisms for Azerbaijani investment in identified sectors of Pakistan's economy.
