News
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Youth to strengthen Pak-China strategic partnership: PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday expressed his conviction that the youth of Pakistan and China will sustain and strengthen the strategic partnership and the bonds of love between the two friendly countries.
“Although the people of Pakistan and China of all ages have deep affection for each other, it is the youth that will sustain and strengthen this bond of love,” he said.
“We will continue to deepen our strategic partnership, expand economic ties and promote people to people contacts. You are both, catalysts as well as leaders in this process,” Gilani told a 100-member Chinese youth delegation led by All-China Youth Federation Assistant President Ni Jian at the Prime Minister’s House.
Gilani described the youth as inheritors as well as the future architects of Pakistan-China relations and said, “You, along with Pakistani peers, will be forerunners of a new dawn not only for our two countries, but for humanity as well.”
“For me, you are China in miniature as you represent all segments of the Chinese society”, he remarked.
The PM recalled the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan last month and said the two sides had decided to maintain and expand step by step the 100 Youth Exchange Programme.
“Yours is the first delegation to visit Pakistan after Premier Wen’s visit. This indicates that we are turning our attention to the youth who will carry forward the torch of the unique friendship between Pakistan and China into the future,” he stressed.
Gilani said he was happy to meet the brightest and the most successful young Chinese youth leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs, academics, artists and journalists.
He said Pakistan and China had strong bilateral relations, but their relationship has assumed strategic dimensions in changing regional and international scenarios.
“We are grateful to China for giving moral and practical support to Pakistan in the fight against terrorism,” he added. The prime minister said Pakistan and China were both committed to fighting the forces of terrorism, extremism and separatism, adding the youth of the two countries had a special responsibility to advocate the values of tolerance and nurture a culture of harmony within societies and amongst members of the international community.
He said, during the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan last month, the two sides had agreed to take their relation to new heights, especially in trade, economic relations and people to people contacts. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk