NewsApril 07 , 2017
Progress visible, security improved in Pakistan: PM
Says it’s govt distinction to resolve political disputes democratically; Pak-China ties at highest trajectory; CPEC will bring people of the two countries closerISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan is making visible progress, while the security situation is far better today than before.
The prime minister said resolution of political disputes while remaining under the law is political distinction of the PML-N government.
Nawaz emphasised that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its related projects symbolise the people-centric approach of the two countries and their resolve for regional connectivity as millions of people in the region would reap benefits of the gigantic venture.
The prime minister was talking to Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of National Committee of Chinese Peoples’ Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), here at the Prime Minister’s House on Thursday. Yu is visiting Pakistan along with a high-level delegation. The prime minister, who returned from Lahore a day earlier after being diagnosed with stone in his kidney and where he had to attend his hospitalised nephew who suffered from brain haemorrhage, met three delegations on Thursday. Exchanging views with the Chinese delegation, the premier said the corridor has immense potential to boost the regional trade and businesses as well as bringing the people of the region closer.
The Chinese delegation included Lin Wenyi, Vice Chairwoman, CPPCC National Committee, Zhang Qingli, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General, CPPCC National Committee, Sun Gan, Standing Committee Member & Chairman of the Committee for Handling Proposals, CPPCC National Committee, Wang Taihua, Standing Committee Member and Chairman of the Committee of Learning, Culture and Historical Data, Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, and Liu Zhenmin, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was also attended by Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman Senate, Raja Zafarul Haq, Leader of House in the Senate, Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs, Fawad Hassan Fawad, Secretary to PM, and other senior government officials.
While warmly welcoming the chairman and the delegation members to Pakistan, the prime minister stated that the visit will establish institutional linkages between the parliaments of Pakistan and China.
The premier said the Pak-China ties are currently at the highest trajectory, adding that CPEC will bring the people of the two countries closer.
“Close cooperation between the two parliaments will contribute towards further strengthening the warm and friendly relations between Pakistan and China,” said the prime minister. He recalled that relations between the two countries were raised to an even higher level of “All Weather Cooperative Strategic Partnership” during the visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in 2015. The prime minister appreciated China’s diplomatic and material support to Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
“I am looking forward to my visit to China in May 2017 to participate in the “Belt and Road Forum” at the invitation of President Xi Jinping,” said the prime minister. “The forum would provide an excellent opportunity for discussing important areas of connectivity, infrastructure, trade, finance, people-to-people exchanges and think-tanks cooperation, not only between Pakistan and China but with the wider world,” said the prime minister.
Yu Zhengsheng thanked Nawaz Sharif for warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation in Pakistan. The chairman CPPCC expressed hope that parliamentary exchanges between China and Pakistan would further strengthen brotherly ties between the two countries.
Later, talking to Dr Gerd Muller, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan’s economy is showing visible improvement while the security situation is far better today than any time before.
“Our emerging democratic character is evident from the handling of all political issues by my government in accordance with the democratic principles and law,” he reminded. The prime minister welcomed Gerd Muller on his visit to Pakistan and said that Pakistan and Germany enjoy friendly and cooperative bilateral relations characterised by shared perceptions and multifaceted cooperation. The premier expressed his government’s desire to enhance bilateral economic ties with Germany and, in this connection, proposed the establishment of bilateral chamber of commerce to further develop bilateral economic relations. The German minister thanked the prime minister for warm hospitality extended to his delegation in Pakistan. He expressed confidence to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields. The German delegation included Ms Ina Lepel, German Ambassador, Dr Bernhard Felmberg, Director General BMZ, Dr Henning Plate and Dr Zoll Juergen, First Secretary, Head of Cooperation. The meeting was also attended by Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs, and other senior government officials.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
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