Pakistan-China Enjoy Strategic Partnership
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan enjoys a strategic partnership with China which is based on the strong trust, abiding cooperation and understanding of each other’s positions on regional and global issues.

“China is our strategic partner and all weather, time tested friend”, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said while taking to Assistant Foreign Minister of China Cui Tiankai who called on him here on Tuesday.

The Assistant Foreign Minister of China conveyed to the Prime Minister personal greetings of the Chinese Premier and said the Chinese leadership admires the achievements of Pakistan in the last eight years.

The Prime Minister said that relations between Pakistan and China have withstood changes in the international environment as they are based on mutual trust, unanimity of views on important regional and international issues, non interference in each other’s affairs and also because these are supported by the people of both the countries.

He said China is a great power and is a factor for global peace and stability. Pakistan admires the achievements of the Chinese leadership and China’s example is an inspiration for all developing countries, the Prime Minister added.

He further said that Pakistan accords high priority to its close relationship with China and is keen to expand it in all spheres of life.

The Prime Minister said that China is emerging as a significant exporter of capital and investing in many countries/regions to help them develop their economic potential through investment in infrastructure, energy, exploration and other important sectors.

He said the security and safety of the Chinese people working in Pakistan is of paramount importance for Pakistan and the government is taking strict measures in order to ensure their safety.

The Prime Minister said that “such kind of acts were deliberate by our adversaries to create mistrust between the two counties” but assured that any such attempt would be dealt with iron hand.

He said that for the last couple of years there was a big surge in trade between the two countries and efforts are underway to further promote it.

The Free Trade Agreement between the two countries is a historic development and will enhance trade, he added.

The Prime Minister thanked the Chinese Government for sending a buying mission to Pakistan as a follow up to the Prime Minister’s visit to China and place orders of over $ 230 million.

In this regard he said that the government of Pakistan has given a lot of incentives to the Chinese to invest in Pakistan so that the economic ties between the two counties would be further strengthened.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is committed to oppose militancy and would not allow anyone to use its territory for any kind of activities prejudice to the security of any other country.

“Pakistan is capable of defending its territory and will not allow any foreign troops on its soil. We will cooperate with the global community to create environment of peace and harmony and oppose terrorism”, he added.

Cui Tiankai thanked the government of Pakistan for sending relief goods for the flood affected people in Southern China.

He further said that his government and the people of China always regard Pakistan as their true friend and hoped that existing relations between the two countries would further strengthen in time to come.

He said that China and Pakistan are the strategic partners and hoped that this relation would grow further in future.

The meeting discussed cooperation to increase trade, investment, security, defence, science and technology and enhancing people to people contact.

The visiting dignitary said Chinese people and government support their brethren in Pakistan and will work closely together with them to enhance cooperation in every field.●