ISLAMABAD-  Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Friday that the Pak-China friendship, which has entered the seventh decade, is emerging as a strong strategic partnership.

In a video message before flying to Beijing for a two-day official visit, FM Qureshi said Pakistan and China will continue to work together as strong allies and brothers. The FM said Pakistan was committed to complete the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects on time.

He said the visit was aimed at discussing the partnership and renew strategies where needed.

“I will meet FM Wang Yi to exchange views on all the   issues of importance,” he added.

The FM’s visit comes following the incident near the Dasu project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last week, in which nine Chinese nationals and four Pakistanis lost their lives. A bus carrying Pakistan and Chinese workers to the site of the Dasu project met with an accident with reports suggesting that a blast occurred, causing the vehicle to plunge into a ravine.

The Dasu hydroelectric project is part of the CPEC, a US $65 billion investment plan under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative that is aimed at connecting western China to the Gwadar seaport in southern Pakistan.

The FM plans to brief his Chinese counterpart over the investigations and findings regarding the Dasu tragedy.

The foreign ministry earlier in the day said the FM was visiting China on the invitation of the State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that the visit is part of the high-level exchanges between the two the neigbours. The FM is accompanied by senior officials.

“The visit will play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ and will expand strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues,” the statement said.

During the visit, both sides will discuss the CPEC defence and security cooperation, Covid-19 vaccines, counter-terrorism as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

“This year, Pakistan and China are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. More than 100 celebratory events have been planned of which over 60 events have already been held so far,” the statement added.

“These celebrations have immensely contributed to injecting a fresh vigour and warmth in the traditional friendship.” The statement said that both the countries are staunch partners and their time-tested relationship is based on unparalleled mutual trust, understanding and commonality of interests.

Both sides are fully committed to building closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future, it said.