BEIJING — Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli met with Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab Province Shahbaz Sharif in Beijing on Aug 25, calling for joint efforts to step up the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Zhang hailed the all-weather strategic partnership between both countries, citing frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful cooperation in various fields.

He recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping’s successful state visit to Pakistan in April.

Zhang called on both sides to keep close coordination in building the CPEC, to make it benefit the two peoples.

The CPEC, a 3,000-km network of roads, railways and pipelines linking Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and southwest Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, is a major project of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.

Shahbaz expressed appreciation for China’s support for Pakistan’s economic and social development, adding that his country is ready to cement cooperation with China and promote new progress of the CPEC construction.