On May 23, 2013 local time, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with Nawaz Sharif, the Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), in Islamabad.
Li Keqiang congratulated Sharif on the good results he got in the general election of Pakistan. Li Keqiang said, you made a special arrangement yesterday to join my meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso. It indicates that you spare no efforts to promote the development of China-Pakistan relations, and it also indicates that no matter how the political situation changes in Pakistan, China-Pakistan friendship is deeply rooted and unbreakable. The Chinese government under the new leadership will continue to regard the relationship with Pakistan as a top priority of its foreign policy, is willing to work with the Pakistani side to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries, to promote all-dimensional cooperation, to break fresh ground for China-Pakistan friendship and to open new dimension of bilateral cooperation strategy.
Li Keqiang pointed out that, both developed and developing countries are now taking economic development as a top priority. Without economic development, no country can improve people's well-being, or to ensure social harmony and security. The Chinese side is willing to discuss with the Pakistani side for strengthening all-dimensional and strategic cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy and trade, and in particular, for the major project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to be well done. To try our best to carry forward the planning and construction for the project, in order to make the project, which will benefit hundreds of millions of people with its immense development prospects and huge market potential, a new highlight of bilateral cooperation.
Sharif warmly welcomed Premier Li for his visit. He expressed that China is the closest and the most powerful friend of Pakistan. It is the common aspiration of all Pakistani people to maintain friendly relations with China, and it will be always the priority of Pakistan's foreign policy whichever party takes power. This visit of Premier Li Keqiang has achieved fruitful results and will help consolidate the Pakistan-China traditional friendship, promote bilateral relations and push forward Pakistan's economic reform. The Pakistani side is willing to expand strategic cooperation with China, to make full efforts in implementing the achievements of the visit and building the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, so as to better benefit the two countries and the two peoples.