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Pakistan attaches highest importance to Xi visit
APP
ISLAMABAD – Chinese President Xi Jinping's expected visit to Pakistan this year will “mark a visible upgrading” of the bilateral relationship and add new substance to current strategic ties, said Pakistan's Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi to the prime minister. Syed Tariq Fatemi said that the visit is “likely to take place at an early date.” Pakistan attaches the highest importance to the visit and the two sides will spare no effort to make it a historic occasion that leaves a deep imprint on the relationship, China Daily reported on Tuesday. Fatemi, a veteran Pakistani diplomat, pointed out that if the visit goes ahead it will be the first by a Chinese head of state in nine years. Then-president Hu Jintao visited Pakistan in 2006. The diplomat anticipated that the Pakistan visit will be the first stop of Xi's foreign tour in 2015. Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Islamabad last week for talks, and told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that a visit by Xi would “definitely inject remarkable momentum” into the relationship. He said, “China is not only our time-tested friend, but also a very powerful factor in the maintenance of global financial, economic and political order.” He is leading an energy delegation from Pakistan in order to strengthen cooperation and alleviate an acute shortage of electricity in Pakistan. The diplomat spoke highly of China's proposals to boost regional connectivity, including the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives proposed by Xi in 2013. Such initiatives will spread Chinese investment, expertise and experience across the entire region, he said, adding, “It is an excellent idea and demonstrates once again to the world that China actually believes in sharing its prosperity with other countries.” Pakistan and China are celebrating 2015 as the Year of Friendly Exchanges, and he said that the planned events will boost public awareness on both sides of the importance attached to the relationship by the two countries. The events will engage not only government authorities, but also nongovernmental groups and individuals, he said. There will be an increased number of exchange visits by TV and radio reporters as well as civic groups. Meanwhile, security pressure is mounting on both Pakistan and China as the United States and NATO are withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Last week, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao co-chaired the first trilateral strategic talks involving Pakistan, China and Afghanistan. He said, “No single country can pursue its objectives of peace, stability and economic growth without creating a circle of friends around it.” The trilateral collaboration “will be successful in eliminating this scourge of terrorism,” he said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk