June 9 marked the first day of President Xi Jinping's packed schedule of meetings with visiting leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in the coastal city of Qingdao. Following are highlights of the bilateral talks.

 

Mamnoon Hussain, Pakistani president

 

China will continue to firmly support Pakistan to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain.

 

China supports Pakistan to select its own development path, and China will continue to work with Pakistan as they support each other on issues related to their core interests, thus safeguarding the interests of both countries as well as the common interests of developing nations, Xi said.

 

He welcomed Hussain, who was attending the summit as a formal member of the SCO for the first time since Pakistan was accepted as a full member of the organization last year.

 

The development of China-Pakistan relations has gained momentum in recent years, and the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership is not only the wealth of both countries, but also a leading model for a new type of international relations, Xi said.

 

Noting that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Pakistan, Xi said China would like to enhance high-level exchanges and strategic communication with Pakistan, boost friendly exchanges in all areas, steadily push forward building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and enhance cooperation in energy and infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

Pakistan will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and stands with China on all core issues, including the South China Sea issue, Hussain said.

 

"China is our closest friend and strongest partner," he told Xi.

 

Pakistan would like to maintain high-level exchanges with China, deepen cooperation in all areas such as economy, trade and security, and push the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Hussain said.

 

Pakistan supports China in playing a bigger role in global affairs, which is of great significance for maintaining global security and stability, he added.

 

China is ready to develop an all-weather friendship with Uzbekistan and achieve common prosperity on the path toward national reform and rejuvenation, President Xi Jinping told his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

 

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, while Uzbekistan has also worked out a series of reform plans, Xi said.

 

Hailing the two countries as good neighbors who stick together through thick and thin, good friends with mutual trust and good partners who enjoy win-win cooperation, he said the comprehensive strategic partnership between the nations continues to grow while the important consensus reached by the two heads of state is being carried forward.

 

Uzbekistan was one of the countries that supported and participated in the Belt and Road Initiative at an early stage, and thanks to joint efforts from both sides, bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful outcomes, Xi said.

 

The Chinese president called for more efforts from both sides to develop trade and deepen partnerships in production capacity, investment and infrastructure connectivity, as well as intensify cooperation in law enforcement and security.

 

Mirziyoyev said the Uzbek-China relationship involves across-the-board cooperation and is now at its "historical best".

 

The implementation of the consensus on bilateral cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the Uzbek people, he said.

 

Mirziyoyev said his country is resolute in adhering to the one-China policy and firmly supports China's efforts to combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

 

Uzbekistan is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as coordinate on regional affairs, he added.

 

Joint construction of Belt and Road Initiative projects has become the major part of China-Tajikistan cooperation, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon.

 

The two sides should promote balanced trade development, deepen financial and investment cooperation, expand cooperation on interconnectivity, and boost closer people-to-people exchanges in the next stage, Xi said.

 

China and Tajikistan should continue to fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as combat transnational organized crime, he said.

 

Xi also said the two friendly neighbors have treated each other with sincerity for a long time and have carried out fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation.

 

According to Xi, while China and Tajikistan are both in the crucial stage of realizing national development and rejuvenation, the two countries should help and support each other to jointly address challenges and realize common development.

 

The two countries should constantly deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and enable the bilateral friendship to benefit the peoples of China and Tajikistan in a broader way, he said.

 

Xi also said China supports Tajikistan in taking over the presidency of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, and is willing to assist in preparing for the CICA summit.

 

Rahmon said his country treasures its traditional friendship with China, and spoke highly of China's long-term support for Tajikistan's economic and social development.

 

He said Tajikistan firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and is committed to fighting the "three evil forces" and promoting bilateral cooperation in all areas and deeper coordination in regional affairs.

 

China stands ready to work with India to keep enhancing political mutual trust and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

The two leaders recalled the informal summit they held in April in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, saying the consensus reached at that time has been crucial to guiding development of China-India relations.

 

The two countries and the international community have been positive about the informal meeting, and the good atmosphere that has taken shape supports the further development of bilateral ties, Xi said.

 

China is willing to work with India, taking the informal meeting as a new starting point, to enhance their partnership and push for the further development of bilateral ties in a faster and steadier way, he added.

 

Noting the early harvest that implementing the consensus of the informal meeting has yielded, Xi called on the two sides to continue strategic communications, expand the economic and trade partnership, advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

 

Xi welcomed India's attendance at the 18th SCO Summit in Qingdao for the first time as a full member of the organization, saying China is ready to work with all member states, including India, to carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit" and push for the healthy and steady development of the regional organization.

 

Calling the informal summit in Wuhan "successful and important", Modi said the meeting has boosted his confidence in developing bilateral ties. The informal meeting was a landmark in the history of India-China relations, he added.