ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on
Tuesday said the all-weather friendship between Pakistan
and China had transformed into a strategic partnership, which was not only a source of stability for the two countries but stood for the development and betterment of humankind.
The President expressed these views while speaking at a
special ceremony organized by the Chinese Embassy here to mark the 65th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal,
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs
Syed Tariq Fatemi, Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan
Achakzai, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail
Aman, senior civil and military officials and a large number
of people from different walks of life attended the ceremony.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong also addressed the
ceremony.
The President said Pakistan-China friendship started at
a time when the examples of selfless and sincere friendships
were very rare. In such a situation, Pakistan and
China joined hands and developed mutual trust.
“These relations have today transformed into strategic
partnership and durable cooperation encompassing almost all
fields, including economy, science and technology, culture,
sports, education and people to people contact,” he added.
The President expressed his belief that Pak-China
friendship would be a source of progress and betterment for
humanity symbolized by China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
He said as the world was looking at CPEC with optimism
he believed that the foundation of this Corridor was laid the
day the construction of Silk Road was undertaken.
“The skilled workforce of Pakistan and China worked
shoulder to shoulder to convert this ordinary road into the
Eighth Wonder of the world and even did not hesitate in laying down their lives in the process,” he remarked.
The President said like the Silk Road, Pak-China foreign
policy was a unique example of mutual harmony and solidarity, which never wavered even during challenging international situations.
Both the countries, he said, had played a very useful
role in establishing regional and international peace and
strengthening world order. “Be it One China Policy, Kashmir
issue, intricacies of international conflicts or
reorganization of the UN Security Council, the way both the
countries have supported each other in these matters is a
golden chapter in our history.”
The President expressed his belief that this sincere
friendship would pass on to the future generations and the
world would not only marvel at the exemplary ties but would
also greatly benefit from it which would facilitate global
peace and stability and open up new avenues of progress and prosperity.
He said Pak-China friendship was unique in many ways.
“In the diplomatic world, friendship between two countries is
normally limited to official relations but Pak-China
friendship has moved beyond official level and taken roots at
the people-to-people level unaffected by any international
development,” he remarked.
The President said the sincere Pak-China friendship had
deepened their relations to such an extent where it had become a unique example for the rest of the world and it was now underpinning world peace, brotherhood and progress.
He said the sincere and multipurpose relations between
the two countries spanning over a period of 65 years were an unparalleled model of friendship for the world.
“One can hardly find such instance of friendship in the
history of foreign relations,” the President said and
congratulated Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong for organizing the event on the auspicious occasion of 65 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The President expressed his confidence that China would
continue to make economic strides under the dynamic and
visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping and Pakistan
would stand shoulder to shoulder with China in this quest.
“I again congratulate Ambassador Sun Weidong for
organizing this wonderful event, which reflects his deep
commitment in cementing Pakistan-China relations,” he
maintained.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, in his welcome remarks,
said the celebration of 65th anniversary of Pak-China
diplomatic ties was a moment of significance in the history
of two countries’ friendship.
He said since the establishment of diplomatic ties in
1951, Pakistan and China were enjoying close and friendly
relations which were growing strength to strength.
Ambassador Sun said these ties were based on equality,
sincerity, mutual benefit and shared prosperity.
He said the two countries had all-round relations
including political, cultural, people-to-people contacts,
trade, economy, security etc.
The Chinese Ambassador said two countries shared views
on regional and international issues and always supported each other at all international fora. “If one faces any difficulty, the other extends helping hand,” he remarked.
He recalled the last year’s visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan and said the agreements reached between
the two sides were being implemented on a fast pace.
Ambassador Sun termed China Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) a new golden era of Pak-China friendship and
expressed his confidence that relations would continue to
further grow and strengthen in future as well.
Later President Mamnoon Hussain along with the Chinese
Ambassador also cut a special cake to mark the occasion.
