China, Pakistan step up cooperation in building economic corridor

China and Pakistan vowed to advance joint efforts to build a bilateral economic corridor as the two neighbors signed an outline of the long-term plan on the project here Saturday.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Nawaz Sharif witnessed the signing of the outline after their meeting in Beijing.
Calling the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor a "flagship" project to strengthen China's connectivity with neighboring countries, Li said the initiative set the strategic framework for pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.
The two nations should facilitate the development of Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan, strengthen cooperation in energy and electricity projects and well plan industrial parks along the corridor, he urged.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was proposed in an agreement reached during Li's visit to Pakistan in May 2013. It is planned to connect Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with the Gwadar Port.
The two countries also signed other documents on cooperation in areas like technologies, energy, finance, industrial parks and communications on Saturday.
Li said more than 20 agreements were signed during Sharif's visit.
China has always made it a priority of diplomatic work to develop relations with Pakistan and is ready to establish "a community of common destiny" with the neighbor, he said.
Sharif said Pakistan is willing to work for the successful construction of the corridor.
He also welcomed Chinese investment in Pakistan and promised to ensure the safety of Chinese people and institutions in his country.