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Saturday, December 24, 2011
‘Robust Pak-China partnership conducive to peace’ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday that a comprehensive Pakistan-China partnership and a robust cooperation were in the fundamental interest of their peoples and conducive to the peace, progress and stability of Asia.
“There is a complete convergence of views of our two countries on the global and regional issues and a commonality of approach to advance the international agenda for peace and prosperity,” Gilani said while speaking at a banquet he hosted in honour of the visiting State Councillor of China Dai Bingguo at the Prime Minister’s House.
The prime minister termed the friendship with China as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and said, “The relations between Pakistan and China go beyond governments and are deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of our peoples.”
“We rejoice with our Chinese friends on their remarkable national accomplishments. China’s economic transformation, technological excellence and spirit of innovation elicit our respect and admiration,” he added.
The prime minister said that China continued to make an admirable contribution to global peace and development, adding, “It provides an excellent example of wise conduct in international affairs.”
He claimed that Pakistan and China were close neighbours linked by common rivers and mountains.
“We have a long history of rich civilisational interaction. Our peoples have waged heroic struggles against subjugation, and written glorious chapters in the pursuit of freedom, human dignity and economic development,” he added.
The prime minister said that Pakistan valued its friendship with China, adding, “It remains our abiding endeavour to strengthen cooperation with China.”
“Our special relations are underpinned by mutual trust; and mutual respect. Our mutually beneficial partnership accords fully with the aspirations of our peoples for peace, progress and prosperity,” he said.
Gilani said Pakistan supports China on all its core issues, adding, “We support One China policy and are totally committed to upholding of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The prime minister noted that Pakistan deeply valued China’s strong support and solidarity with it in its national efforts to uphold sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
“We also appreciate China’s invaluable support for Pakistan’s socio-economic development,” he added. The prime minister said, “We share the ideals of a safe, secure and prosperous neighborhood, a region free from strife and conflict, and a world embracing peace, harmony and understanding,” adding, “We want this vision to be translated into reality.”
Gilani said that Pakistan was seeking to improve its relations with India and find a peaceful solution to all outstanding issues, adding, “In this context, we attach importance to the ongoing dialogue process with India and hope that it would be productive and result-oriented.”
He said that Pakistan had been in the forefront of the campaign against terror. “We have registered significant success and offered enormous sacrifices. We remain committed to eliminating the specter of terrorism from our region.”
The prime minister observed that an exchange of high-level visits had been a unique feature of the Sino-Pakistan relationship as President Zardari had paid seven visits to China and he, Gilani, had visited China four times.
“These visits were very productive,” he added.
Gilani said Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit last December was another outstanding landmark in the all-dimensional friendship and cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China. “Your presence in Islamabad to commemorate the successful culmination of the Pakistan-China Friendship year is a source of joy and immense satisfaction for the government and people of Pakistan,” he said. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk