China, Pakistan to continue working on global development

• Pakistan was not invited to the high-level dialogue
• Pakistan confirmed a BRICS member blocked the invitation
• China reaffirmed to work with Pakistan on global development

BEIJING: China’s Foreign Ministry has commented on reports over Pakistani’s exclusion from the High-level Dialogue on Global Development held on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting.

China hosted a BRICS event virtually and invited 13 other countries but the absence of Pakistan from the event had raised concerns amid Beijing’s push to expand the bloc.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has confirmed that the country’s invitation to a development dialogue held in China on June 24 was blocked by a BRICS member. Without naming any country, the spokesperson said “regrettably” one BRICS member blocked Pakistan’s participation in the event.

When asked to comment on media reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that Pakistan was an important member of the group of friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI).

Addressing the regular press conference, the spokesperson said China highly valued the important role of Pakistan in promoting global development and advancing implementation of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development and regional cooperation.

READ MORE: BRICS member blocked Pakistan’s invitation to event in China: FO

“China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Pakistan is an important member of the group of friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI),” he said.

“China highly values the important role of Pakistan in promoting global development and advancing the implementation of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development and boosting regional cooperation,” he added.

Zhao Lijian said that China and Pakistan maintained close communication and coordination. “We have conducted substantial cooperation in the field of development, which has delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries and the region,” he added.

He remarked that China would continue to make Pakistan a priority partner in implementing the global development initiative. He said China will continue to work with Pakistan to advance the global development agenda.

The spokesperson said that the decision to hold the high-level dialogue on global development was based on consultation among BRICS countries.