Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today met Chinese President Xi Jinping and sought assistance in energy, transport and infrastructure projects, hoping that China will stand by its friend and neighbour to help it tide over a severe energy crisis and economic woes.
Sharif, who arrived in China on his first foreign visit after returning to power, told Xi that Pakistan is faced with numerous challenges and it has an uphill task to pull the economy out from the current economic difficulties.
He said that he was fully cognisant of the internal security situation in parts of the country and the government was working out a strategy to improve it.
The Pakistan Prime Minister is accompanied by a 11-member high-level delegation that include senior ministers, Punjab and Balochistan Chief Ministers and top officials.
Ahead of his visit, China's restive Xinjiang province bordering PoK was rocked by violence, claiming 35 lives.
The violence in the Muslim-majority province brought to the fore Beijing's concerns that the Uygur militants of the separatist East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) are being trained in terror camps in Pakistan.
Talking about the economic challenges, Sharif said his country has to address the matter in tandem with internal and regional security issues.
"Failure to address these issues was not an option for him and Pakistan believes that China will stand by its friend and neighbour," Sharif was quoted as saying by Pakistan's state-run APP new agency.
Sharif was warmly welcomed by Xi who recalled his earlier meeting with him in 2010.
Xi told him China hoped to move ahead with plans for a "China-Pakistan economic corridor."
"All-weather strategic cooperation is the precious wealth our two countries share," Xi said.
The Chinese President said that "We are proud that you have chosen China for your first overseas visit".
