Pakistan won't downgrade its ties with China on 'any pressure': PM Imran

"Pakistan and China enjoyed very special relationship spanning over 70 years of friendship and nothing could change these time-tested ties."

In an exclusive interview with LIU Xin of CGTN, China state media television, the prime minister highlighted the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

Responding to a question, Khan emphatically reiterated “Whatever will happen…relationship between our two countries, no matter what pressure is put on us, is not going to change.”

Pakistani Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI told me it is very unfair for the U.S., or other Western powers, to make countries like Pakistan take sides. He said, "whatever will happen...no matter what pressure," #China and #Pakistan's relationship "is not going to change."@PakinChina_ pic.twitter.com/e4MoSubJm7

— CGTN LIU Xin 刘欣 (@LiuXininBeijing) June 29, 2021

In the region, he said, a strange and great power rivalry took place which everybody knew. It could create problems. The US formed a regional alliance called ‘Quad’ including India and couple of other countries.

“So, from that point of view, Pakistan thinks that it is very unfair of the US and other western powers……(to make)…for countries like Pakistan to take sides. Why should we take sides! We should have good relationship with everyone,” he maintained.

“Relationship between Pakistan and China is very deep, it’s not just the governments, but it’s people to people relationship,” he added.

The prime minister further said that when Pakistan had been in trouble politically or internationally, or had conflicts with its neighbour, China always stood with them.

About China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the CPEC, was ‘the biggest thing happening in Pakistan’, and where its economic future was moving.

The people of China have special place in the hearts of people of Pakistani, he said, adding “You remember friends who stand with you in all times. In good times, everyone stands with you but in difficult, tough and bad times, you remember those people who stood by you.”

He said the people of Pakistan have that kind of fondness for the people of China.

To another question, PM Imran said the relationship between the two countries grew stronger politically and on the international fora, Pakistan and China stood together.