Chinese President Xi Jinping praised Beijing's 'unbreakable' friendship with Pakistan as he met visiting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing, seeking to deepen their 'all-weather' strategic partnership. The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi called Sharif an 'old friend' and said the two countries had 'understood, trusted and supported each other' over decades, forging an 'unbreakable traditional friendship'. 'No matter how the international situation changes, China always prioritises the development of China-Pakistan relations in its neighbourhood diplomacy,' Xi stated.

Sharif, in turn, called China and Pakistan 'iron brother' countries with a relationship that is 'next to none'. The visit comes as Pakistan plays a leading role in mediating talks aimed at ending the US-Israel war on Iran.

Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, who has been central to mediating talks between Washington and Tehran, accompanied Sharif. Speaking to Chinese leaders, Sharif said, 'The world is passing through a critical moment' and 'things are moving in the right direction'.

China and Pakistan pledged to work together to 'make positive contributions to the early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East'. In March, they issued a five-point initiative calling for peace talks and restoration of normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: www.aljazeera.com