News
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
‘Strategic partnership with China basis of Pak foreign policy’* Chinese team discusses various issues with Khar, Bukhari
* Both sides agree on further cementing bilateral relations
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Monday that strategic partnership with China remained the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and that the relationship had withstood the test of times and changes in the international scenarios
A Chinese delegation led by Liu Dongdong, the vice chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National People’s Congress of China had called on the foreign minister on Monday evening. During the meeting, important bilateral as well as regional issues were discussed.
The Chinese vice chairman thanked the foreign minister for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He briefed her on China’s position on various regional and international issues and assured Pakistan of the China’s continued support and cooperation in all fields.
The foreign minister thanked the Chinese government for the help extended to Pakistan for flood relief activities. She also expressed her gratitude for the technical assistance and help extended by China in the recent tragic incident of Siachen. The foreign minister highlighted that exchange of parliamentary delegations would strengthen people-to-people contacts and welcomed such visits in the future. Separately, Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari on Monday underlined the need for closer cooperation between Pakistan and China to further strengthen bilateral relations. He said that the relationship was time tested and both the countries supported each other in the hour of need. He expressed these views while talking to Liu Dongdong and members of his delegation. The Senate chairman observed that Pakistan holds it relations with China in high esteem and the current democratic government was keen to further cement the multifaceted ties between the two countries.
He said that there was huge scope for enhancing bilateral trade volume and business communities of the two sides should be encouraged to explore new avenues of cooperation in trade and commerce. “We must foster people-to-people contacts and exchange of visits at the parliamentary levels to benefit from each others’ experience and expertise,” he said.
Bukhari appreciated the assistance given by Chinese government during the earthquake in 2005 and the devastating floods in 2010 and 2011. He thanked the Chinese government for the support and relief assistance during the critical times. Bukhari stated that both the countries had similar views on international issues and other matters of mutual significance. He reiterated that Pakistan strongly believed in “One China Policy” and pointed out that there were more then 6,000 Chinese workers in Pakistan carrying out different projects. The government was making foolproof security arrangements for protection of the Chinese engineers and workers.
Liu Dongdong agreed with the views of the Senate chairman, saying that relations between the two countries were based on mutual respect and trust. He said that close contacts between the two parliaments were an integral part of the bilateral friendship. He stressed the need for enhancing cooperation in the field of culture, tourism, defence and other fields for the ultimate benefit of the people of two nations. He termed his discussions with Pakistani counterparts as fruitful and expressed the hope that ties between the two countries would be further strengthened in future. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, while welcoming the delegation, said that there existed unanimity of opinion on relationship with China, and that Pakistan is proud of its deep-rooted relations with China. Newly appointed Minister of State Abbas Khan Afridi and Senate Secretary Iftikharullah Babar were also present on the occasion.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk