Pakistan's foreign office has denounced the United States counselor's remarks about Pak-China relations and said that China has been a consistent friend of Pakistan. In a foreign office briefing, Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan being a sovereign state exercises the right to choose its economic partners from around the globe on a mutually beneficially basis.

In response to the query about the U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet's recent statement regarding Pakistan-China relations, the spokesperson said Pakistan considers China as an all-weather strategic cooperative partner. She said China has been a consistent, generous and steadfast friend that has stood by Pakistan for the last several decades.

The spokesperson said Pakistan as a nation is proud of its friendship with China which has always come to Pakistan's assistance when needed, according to a Gwadar Pro's report. Earlier, the U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said that the United States is "concerned" about debt owed to China by Pakistan and other countries.

Pakistani finance minister Ishaq Dar had welcomed the approval of 700 million USD loan for Pakistan by China Development Bank (CDB). The finance minister while making the announcement said “Formalities completed and Board of China Development Bank has approved the facility of US $ 700 million for Pakistan. This amount is expected to be received this week by State Bank of Pakistan which will shore up its forex reserves!”

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP