China says it's ready to build economic corridor with Pak

Beijing: China is ready to work with Pakistan to complete a long-term plan by this year-end to build a bilateral economic corridor, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_1475691” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  China Premier Li Keqiang. Reuters[/caption] In a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference, Li said the two countries agreed to make building of the corridor the focus of bilateral practical cooperation, Xinhua reported. And the consensus is conducive to forging a China-Pakistan “community of shared destiny”, Li added. The corridor connecting Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Region to the southwestern Pakistani port of Gwadar was proposed in an agreement between the two countries reached during Li’s visit to Pakistan in May 2013. China will also work with Pakistan to provide financial support for the construction of the corridor, he said, adding that the country would like to enhance cooperation with Pakistan on the fight against terrorism, and hopes Pakistan will provide security for Chinese organisations and personnel in Pakistan. Prime Minister Sharif said Pakistan is ready to further strategic cooperation with China and noted the relationship with China is the “cornerstone” of Pakistan’s diplomacy and the two countries are all-weather and long-tested friends. IANS