NEW YORK — China stands ready to deepen all-round practical cooperation with Pakistan and is willing to make joint efforts with Islamabad in injecting new impetus into the development of bilateral relations, Premier Li Keqiang said here on Sept 21.

He made the remarks when meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly that opened earlier last week.

As all-weather strategic partners of cooperation, China and Pakistan have always firmly supported each other and their friendship is unbreakable, he said.

China is willing to maintain close high-level contacts and continue to strengthen coordination with Pakistan on global and regional affairs, Premier Li said.

While noting that practical cooperation focusing on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has made positive progress, he urged the two sides to carry out the planned construction of the corridor, accelerate the building of the Gwadar Port as well as its supporting facility, and bring more companies into industrial parks.

Premier Li Keqiang (2nd R) meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (1st L) in New York, Sept 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li also called for strengthening cooperation in fields concerning public welfare such as education, medical service and health care and drinking water projects, to benefit more Pakistani regions and people.

The Premier also expressed the hope that the Pakistani side could enhance security risk prevention and take measures to guarantee the safety of the Chinese project staff.

For his part, Sharif told Premier Li that Pakistan and China are time-tested friends and partners who have firmly supported each other. As their relations develop very smoothly, bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields has also entered a new phase.

The Pakistani side cherishes friendship with China, and is committed to promoting bilateral cooperation, said the prime minister.

Islamabad is pleased to see the positive progress in the construction of the economic corridor as well as Chinese companies’ high efficiency and their high-quality work in the construction of the project, said the minister.

Sharif said Pakistan will make more efforts to accelerate the construction of the economic corridor, vowing to take measures to guarantee the safety of the Chinese project staff.