News
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
China spells out line of future cooperation with Pakistan* Ambassador says Beijing wants sound political will between the two countries translated into fruitful cooperation in all fields
By Farooq Awan
ISLAMABAD: Days after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ‘successful’ visit to China, Beijing’s newly appointed envoy in Islamabad used a dinner, hosted to mark his assumption of the office, to spell out the line of future cooperation between the two neighbours.
“I myself and all my colleagues at the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan will act in obedience to the important consensus reached by the leaders of two countries; seriously implement the outcome of mutual visits; and make solid progress in cooperation in all fields,” Ambassador Sun Weidong told the audience that comprised politicians from all the major political parties of the country, diplomats and senior bureaucrats.
“The first is to promote friendly exchanges in all areas and at all levels. We will continue to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic cooperation and share experience in developments of our nation. We will promote the contacts between political parties, parliaments, local governments, think tanks, youth and media; consolidate the basis of China-Pakistan friendship, and make China-Pakistan relations stronger, better and harder than steel,” the ambassador said, while divulging upon the first aspect of the ‘three-pronged’ strategy vis-à-vis future relations with Pakistan.
“The second is to transfer the sound political will into fruitful cooperation in all fields. We will take energy and infrastructure cooperation as a top priority; work on planning and development of China-Pakistan economic corridor; further enhance economic and trade cooperation. China supports Pakistan in enhancing self-development capacity, and is ready to work with Pakistan to scientifically plan and orderly push forward cooperative projects in various fields,” the envoy said of the second point, which mainly focuses on development of infrastructure and trade cooperation.
“The third is to make efforts to maintain a sound cooperative environment. Chinese people are sincere friends of Pakistani people. Chinese corporations and citizens in Pakistan make great contribution to promote the bilateral pragmatic cooperation and development of Pakistan. We wish them a secure life and a smooth working environment in Pakistan, and we appreciate the efforts made by Pakistani side for this,” the ambassador said, in a veiled reference to the concerns of the Chinese government on security and well being of their people working on different projects in Pakistan. The ambassador termed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s recent visit to China very ‘successful and productive’. “The two sides issued the “Common Vision for Deepening China-Pakistan Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the New Era”, and signed eight cooperation agreements, covering inter-party contacts; academic exchanges; disaster management and capacity building,” the ambassador said and added that China supports Pakistani government’s efforts in solving the energy shortage and intends to deepen the energy cooperation with Pakistan.
“The two sides agreed to deepen financial cooperation, jointly implement the cooperation in the fields of agriculture, marine, aerospace, public health and education, promote exchange and cooperation between the two militaries, and celebrate the year of 2015 as ‘China-Pakistan Friendship Exchange Year’.”
The ambassador termed agreement on building China-Pakistan Economic Corridor one of the most important achievements of this visit. “The two sides have set up the Joint Cooperation Committee on the Long-Term Plan for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and will jointly plan and construct this corridor,” he said.
He said transportation infrastructure projects and the economic zones along the corridor will organically combine China’s ‘Opening up to the West’ policy together with Pakistan’s blueprint for national development which will also give the world a positive signal that China and Pakistan have joined hands for common development. The ambassador said the Chinese people are currently committed to realising the dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation while the Pakistani people are working hard to achieve the ‘Asian Tiger’ dream of the revival of economy and the rapid development of Pakistan. “So the two peoples share common dreams,” he said and added that the founding father of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam once said, “Only unified efforts can make dreams come true”. “Let’s join our hands to enhance China-Pakistan traditional friendship, develop all-round cooperation, and move together to realise our magnificent dreams,” the ambassador concluded. Acting Chairman of Senate Sabir Ali Baloch was chief guest on the occasion. Advisor to prime minister Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mahdi Shah, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and Senator Mushahid Hussain also attended.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk