CPEC a new era of Pak-China Strategic Partnership: Chinese Ambassador
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ISLAMABAD, (APP): CPEC a new era of Pak-China Strategic Partnership: Chinese Ambassador
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.
