Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (centre L) and China's Premier Li Keqiang attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, November 3, 2018.
China will provide Pakistan with economic aid but more talks will take place to fix the details, a senior Chinese diplomat said, after new Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday.
Pakistan's foreign reserves have plunged 42 percent since the start of the year and now stand at about $8 billion, or less than two months of import cover.
Last month, Pakistan received a $6 billion rescue package from Saudi Arabia, but officials say it is not enough and the country still plans to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert a balance of payments crisis.
It would be Pakistan's 13th rescue package from the multilateral lender since the late 1980s.
Amid escalating tensions over the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman, for blasphemy, Pakistan's powerful army on Friday said the matter was purely legal, and that the military had nothing to do with it. The rare clarification came after some religious leaders accused the army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, and the three-member Supreme Court bench that acquitted the Christian woman in the blasphemy case on Wednesday, of "orchestrating" the acquittal. Some of them even went so far as to declare the three judges "condemnable to death" and called on generals to revolt against the army chief. "Aasia Bibi's case is a purely legal matter, and it should be disposed of through legal process. Dragging the Pakistan army into every matter is deplorable," Major Gen. Asif Ghafoor, Pakistan army spokesman, said in a brief interview with state-run Pakistan Television. Galeri: Aasia Bibi protests stymie Pakistan for third day"There is no compromise on our love of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him,” Ghafoor continued. “[But] Aasia Bibi's case is a legal issue which was being heard for the last 10 years. We should allow it to be disposed of through the legal process.""Islam commands us to peace, forgiveness, and love. Law and order must be maintained in the country," he said, referring to ongoing protests -- some of them violent -- across the country against the top court's judgment. On Friday, roads remained blocked and educational institutions were shut down for a third day in a row following a call for a nationwide strike from religious parties as talks between the government and protesters faltered late Thursday. Pakistan: Talks falter, more Aasia Bibi protests loomAllama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, firebrand head of the newly emerged Sunni group Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), called on his followers "to get ready for martyrdom." A three-member bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar acquitted Aasia Bibi, who had been sentenced to death by a district court in November 2010 for blaspheming Muhammad.In Pakistan, blaspheming Islam or Muhammad is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty. While the state has never executed anyone under the law, mere allegations have stirred mass protests and violence.
Pakistan's army denies role in Aasia Bibi acquittal
Speaking to reporters in Beijing's Great Hall of the People following Khan's talks with Li, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said his country would help.
"During the visit the two sides have made it clear in principle that the Chinese government will provide necessary support and assistance to Pakistan in tiding over the current economic difficulties," Kong said.
"As for specific measures to be taken, the relevant authorities of the two sides will have detailed discussions," he added, without giving details.
Khan told Chinese President Xi Jinping the previous day that he had inherited "a very difficult economic situation" at home.
China promised to support Pakistan's economy on Friday as new Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told of his country's "very difficult" economic situation amid a burgeoning financial crisis.Pakistan's foreign reserves have plunged 42 percent since the start of the year and now stand at about $8 billion, or less than two months of import cover.Last month, Pakistan received a $6 billion rescue package from Saudi Arabia, but officials say it is not enough and the country still plans to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert a balance of payments crisis.It would be Pakistan's 13th rescue package from the multilateral lender since the late 1980s.Pakistan: Talks falter, more Aasia Bibi protests loomMeeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Khan said he'd come to China to learn."My party has only been in power for two months. Unfortunately we have inherited a very difficult economic situation," Khan said."Countries go in cycles. They have their high points, they have their low points. Unfortunately, our country is going through a low point at the moment with two very big deficits, a fiscal deficit and a current account deficit. And so we, as I’ve said, have come to learn."Xi told Khan that he highly valued the two country's relations, reaffirming they were "all-weather" friends.Video: Imran Khan meets China's Xi in first official visit to Beijing"I attach great importance to China-Pakistan relations and am willing to work together with the prime minister to strengthen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership and build a new era of China-Pakistan destiny," Xi said.Neither man mentioned any economic aid in comments made in front of reporters.However, the Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, told Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a separate meeting that China would not let Pakistan down."The Chinese side will continue to provide support and help to the best of its ability for Pakistan's economic and social development and national construction," China's Foreign Ministry cited Wang as saying, without giving details.Khan will meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday, when the two countries are expected to sign a series of agreements.Though China is Pakistan's closest ally, Khan's newly elected government has sought to re-think the two countries' signature project, the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Beijing touts as the flagship infrastructure programme in its vast Belt and Road Initiative.Pakistan has sought to amend CPEC to put greater emphasis on projects that focus on social development, rather than purely on infrastructure.After visiting Beijing, Khan is set to be a key note speaker at a major import fair in Shanghai, an event being touted by China as an opportunity to show the world the country welcomes foreign companies and their products.Khan is in China amid unrest at home over the acquittal of a Pakistani Christian woman on death row for blasphemy, which has prompted an ultra-Islamist party to block roads in protest. 
China promises Pakistan support as Khan tells of 'very difficult' economy
Though China is Pakistan's closest ally, Khan's newly elected government has sought to re-think the two countries' signature project, the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Beijing touts as the flagship infrastructure programme in its vast Belt and Road Initiative.
Pakistan has looked to amend CPEC to put greater emphasis on projects that focus on social development, rather than purely on infrastructure.
Kong said there would be no change in the number of projects under CPEC.
"There is no change at all. If there were, it would only be to increase, not decrease" the number of projects, he added.
However the scope of the project would increase and will tilt in favour of people's livelihoods, Kong said, also without elaborating.
After visiting Beijing, Khan is set to be a key note speaker at a major import fair in Shanghai, an event that China hopes will show the world the country welcomes foreign companies and their products.