On March 19th, the 1st meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism held in Beijing. The meeting, organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, was attended by representatives of 9 political parties including the Pakistan Movement for Justice, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan People's Party as well as representatives of related Chinese departments. The Beijing Declaration of the 1st Meeting of CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism to support the Belt and Road Initiative was approved at the meeting.

Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Movement for Justice and Foreign Minister of Pakistan; Qasim Khan Suri, Member of the Movement for Justice Central Core Committee and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly; and other delivered speeches respectively.

Song said that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and the political parties of the two countries enjoy high-level exchanges in broad areas. The CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism is an innovation in deepening the party-to-party relationship between China and Pakistan, as well as a new communication platform to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Pakistan and promote the construction of the CPEC. The political parties of the two countries should work closely to contribute to China-Pakistan friendship and the steady and long-term development of the CPEC.

Qureshi and representatives of various Pakistani parties appreciated the positive role played by the construction of the CPEC in promoting Pakistan's economic and social development and expressed willingness to strengthen communication and consultation with China through inter-party channels to push for more achievements in the construction of the CPEC.

Song met with Qureshi before the meeting.

Guo Yezhou, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting and attended relevant activities.

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