BEIJING  (DNA) – : 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.

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.

Kong said there would be no change in the number of projects under CPEC.