News
Monday, May 23, 2011
China visit ‘more than satisfactory,’ says Gilani
* PM says he had useful discussions with Chinese leadership
* Refers to several agreements signed between two countries
BEIJING: Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said his recent visit to China was ‘more than satisfactory’.
Talking to ‘China Big Talk’, programme of major English language China daily newspaper, before leaving for home on Sunday, the prime minister said that he had met with the Chinese top leadership and held important and very useful discussions with it.
Gilani said that he had been to China several times in the past. “I visited China as a speaker of the National Assembly, and also had the honour to be the minister-in-waiting for the former Chinese prime minister, Le Ping,” he added.
“As a prime minister, this is my fourth visit, but this is my first official visit,” he said and
added that in fact this visit was part of celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Pakistan- China diplomatic relationship for which the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, had invited him during his visit to Pakistan last year. He recalled that at that meeting both the prime ministers decided to designate 2011 as the year of Pak-China friendship and drawn up various programmmes for strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Gilani pointed out that during the visit he and his delegation attended a cultural forum, while Pakistan-China Entrepreneur Forum met Chinese leaders, top bankers and entrepreneurs. Gilani said that he had had very useful and important discussions in Beijing. “There has been a lot of cooperation between China and Pakistan,” the prime minister said while commenting on agreements of cooperation signed between the two countries.
“These pacts relate to defence, energy, agriculture, science and technology and many other spheres of human activity,” he said. He said there were number of areas where both the countries had been cooperating with each other.
The prime minister said his visit which took place soon after Osama bin Laden’s killing in Pakistan was planned beforehand. He said that Pakistan had excellent relations with China, adding that high-level visits between the two countries always improved their mutual relationship. “Therefore, certainly my visit will bolster our relationship,” he expressed optimism.
He said both Pakistan and China had multidimensional cooperation in various areas and added, “Our main focus this time was more on strengthening the economic ties.”
About the challenges being faced by Pakistan after the killing of Osama bin Laden, the prime minister said that his country was fighting war on terrorism, adding that this problem was not Pakistan specific but a global issue and should be viewed as an international issue.
“To fight terrorism is not an easy task. It is an extremely difficult task,” he remarked.
The prime minister pointed out that Pakistan, in this connection, was paying a heavy price both in the form of human causalities as well as losses to its economy. He said that during the course of this war, Pakistan had sacrificed 30,000 people and 5,000 soldiers.
“We have to face this threat,” he said, adding, “The world should understand and come forward to strengthen our capacity to fight this menace. The international community should recognise Pakistan’s sacrifices.” app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk