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New world order unachievable sans China, says Zardari
SHANGHAI: President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday visited the Pakistan and China Pavilions at the Shanghai Expo 2010.Speaking at the pavilions that showcase Pakistan and China’s historical growth and development through millennia, the President said that Pakistan and China’s relations were thousands of years old dating back to when Buddhism flourished in parts of the world that now constitute Pakistan. He said that China’s rapid economic progress was a model for the third world countries and that Pakistan had a lot to learn from the Chinese model of economic development.
The President said that today China was the third largest economy of the world and because of its economic strength was destined to play a great role in the new world order.
“Indeed the New World Order cannot be conceived without China”, the President said.
The President said that the China Pavilion shows the soft power of China that extended to Asia and beyond. He said that Beijing Olympics, the Expo and forthcoming Asian Games are great examples of China’s soft power.
“I am inspired by the remarkable achievements of the Chinese people and the wisdom of its leaders. Pakistan is keen to learn from the Chinese experience and economic development model,” the President said.
The President said, “There are great opportunities for Pakistan and China to collaborate. We are keen to learn from Chinese experience in fields of modern agriculture, industrial development, conservation and development of water resources, as well as urban planning and development,” he said.
He said that tens of millions of people were expected to visit the Expo and most of them would definitely visit the China Pavilion. “I invite you to step out and visit Pakistani Pavilion, right next door,” the President said.
The President said that the people of Pakistan had a special feelings for Shanghai where the Expo is held, as it was a sister city of Karachi.
He said Pakistani Pavilion is good blend of ancient and modern life of Pakistan and is an impressive portrayal of strong bonds and friendship the two countries enjoy.
The President was accompanied by his daughters Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and other members of the delegation.
Chinese girls dressed in traditional attire chanted and sang slogans of welcome and Pak-China friendship and showered rose petals on the arrival of the President at Pakistani Pavilion in the morning.
President Zardari visited the three story Pavilion where big multimedia screens display pictures of ancient and modern Pakistani heritage, culture, history, agriculture, handicrafts, arts, textile and industrial products, sports, architecture, mountains, beautiful scenic views of KKH and peaks of Pakistan.
There are portraits of founder of nation Quaid e Azam, Allama Iqbal, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. There are also portraits of prominent writers, sportsmen, icons of culture and of women who made achievements in Pakistani society.
A corner is devoted to rich heritage and history of Indus Valley and Gandhara civilizations. One corner in the pavilion is devoted to history of Pak-China friendship. A poster with portrait of Mao with mango tree reads thank you Pakistan for the gift of this delicious fruit.
President stood for quite some time before a television screen where Benazir Bhutto Shaheed’s speeches at the United Nations Human Rights conference were being shown emphasizing the struggle for democracy and human rights and freedom.
A documentary being played on television screens also had extracts of speeches of Benazir Bhutto delivered during her visit to China in her two tenures as Prime Minister of Pakistan that underlined the significance of strong bonds of Sino-Pak relations.
Shanghai Expo was opened on 1st May and will end in October this year.
It stretches over an area of six square kilometers and has 240 pavilions of international organizations and 180 countries from all continents. About 400,000 visitors come to the Expo daily.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv