ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Pakistan –China Iron Brothers Seminar held
Sino-Pak relations have grown from strength to strength over the past 65 years and both the countries have proved themselves as iron brothers. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong said this on Tuesday while addresing a seminar on "Pakistan, China iron brothers", organised by the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage in connection with 65th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations of both the countries.
Both the countries take this relationship as priority of the diplomacy. "We regard each other as equal partners, reliable friend, respect each others' sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Ambassador said. They have extended helping hand to each other in testing times and both the countries maintained close collaboration on important regional and international issues to promote peace and prosperity in the world, he mentioned.
Relations between Pakistan and China have been promoted to all weather strategic partnership which provide new prospects and opportunities to take the relationship to new heights, Sun Weidong said.
Giving a brief outlook of Pakistan-China historic relations, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary said the two sides developed a robust and flexible roadmap for multifaceted cooperation over the last few years.
Leadership of both the countries over the last three years have made strenuous efforts to take the relationship to new heights, the Secretary said.
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project was a clear manifestation of growing relations between the two countries. Bilateral trade ties, people-to-people contacts and defense cooperation between the two countries were further strengthended during the last three years, he said.
"Both the countries stood by each other through thick and thin. China supported Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 wars while Pakistan supported rapproachment between China and the United States", the Secretary said.
Former ambassador and Director General Institute of Strategic Studies Masood Khan said "during past few years Pakistan's trade volume with China has multiplied and it has touched $ 18.9 billion.
By 2050 there is a scope for trade reaching $ 50 billion per year between the two countries."
He said that construction of Karakoram Highway was eighth wonder of the world and 810 Pakistanis and 200 Chinese laid down their lives during its construction.