ISLAMABAD: President Xi Jinping has said that relations with Pakistan is priority direction of his country’s foreign policy and they are willing to cooperate with Pakistan to bring even more benefits to the peoples of the two countries so that they could take this traditional friendship from generation to generation.
“It is for China and Pakistan to be good friends and brothers for ever and with our unity will help and assist each other” the Chinese leader remarked.
Speaking after the signing of 51 agreements and MoUs for the execution of hosts of projects worth $ 46 billion, President Xi described Pakistan and China as two brothers and emphasised that when the brothers are united the strength is even stronger to cut things like metal. He quoted Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s phrase that only through united and consistent efforts can we turn our ideals into reality.
The Chinese President said main objective of his visit is to further cement and giving new boost to the strategic partnership and friendly ties with Pakistan. He expressed the confidence that his visit, particularly his participation in the inauguration and earth breaking ceremonies of various development projects will lead to open new avenues of cooperation between the two countries, including bringing prosperity and development in the region.
He assured that China will continue playing its part for sustainable socio-economic development of Pakistan with particular focus on development in Balochistan.
The Chinese president said special attention will be laid to further strengthen economic strategic partnership with Pakistan in next ten years. He said both the countries have common future and today we have reiterated our resolve to continue working for brining peace and promoting harmony.
Xi Jinping said his country will work with determination during the current year to further strengthen its relations with Pakistan in all fields.
Referring to various development projects launched today, he said the economic corridor will be beneficial for both the countries and 30 agreements out of 51 signed today are linked with the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He hoped that construction of Karachi-Lahore motorway, Lahore Orange Line metro train, and energy projects will go a long way in the socio-economic redevelopment of Pakistan.
He said Prime Minister Sharif and he held very fruitful talks and together witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreement. He expressed his full satisfaction over the outcome of the talks and said the agreements of all weather cooperative partnership will enrich the strategic dimensions and contents of Pak-China community of shared destiny.
President Xi appreciated the contribution of Pakistan to counter terrorism and said they support the Pakistani side to move forward on its counter terrorism strategy in the light of its own national conditions. He said China is willing to help Pakistan capability to fight terrorism.
He said the two sides agreed that they will take the building of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the centre of priorities and focus will be on four areas of Gawadar Port, transportation and infrastructure, energy and Industry. He said they will upgrade Karakoram high way and motorway between Karachi and Lahore, transport orange project of Lahore and series of energy programmes. He assured that China stands ready to continue with Pakistan economic and social development. He said they have also decided to provide free economic assistance to Pakistan towards rehabilitation of Balochistan affected areas for livelihood programmes.
President Xi said they have agreed to ensure the success of activities and friendly exchanges and he will confer the Friendship Award to certain civil personalities and representatives of groups in Pakistan.
The Chinese President said they agreed to further step up policy coordination and strategic cooperation to the common interest of the two countries.
The two sides will step up communication, cooperation and coordination on Afghanistan in order to jointly push ahead the Afghan reconciliation process and offer a constructive role to achieve Afghan peace and stability.
He assured Chinese support to Pakistan to join the Shinghai Cooperation Organisation as full member.
He expressed deepest gratitude for according a rousing welcome to him and his delegation and expressed the confidence that this visit will open new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaking on the occasion said the agreements and MoUs signed by the two countries for projects in Pakistan have sound financial and technical backing and are being put on fast track.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that friendship with China is corner stone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The Prime Minister assured President Xi that Pakistan considers Chinese security as important as its own security. He said the visit of the Chinese President have led them to coordinate their position on multilateral issues.
He said we have taken momentous decisions that will raise Pakistan-China relations to new heights and will have deep and far-reaching impact for our common economic future and peace and security in the region.
The Prime Minister said we have decided to transform our relations into strategic cooperative partnership.
He said we have reviewed regional and international development and agreed to make coordinated efforts for peace and stability in the region.
The Prime Minister said he informed the Chinese leader that Pakistan desires a peaceful neighbourhood to focus on pursuing growth and prosperity. To this end, Pakistan wants peaceful relations with all its neighbours.
Referring to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said this will benefit all provinces and areas in Pakistan and transform our country into a regional hum of commerce and investment. He said the Corridor will also provide a shorter and cheaper route to China for trade with South, Central, and West Asia and Middle East and Africa. This corridor will become symbol of peace and prosperity.
The Prime Minister said the Chinese leader welcomed the steps taken by Pakistan to counter the menace of terrorism and extremism especially since launch of operation Zarb-e-Azb. He also recognized sacrifices being rendered by our armed forces and people of Pakistan in their effort to root out militancy and terrorism.
He said the visit allowed us to coordinate our position in multilateral issues ahead of 70th anniversary of the founding of UN. Both countries have affirmed their common desire to work closely to secure their interest in UN reform process.
President Xi endorsed Pakistan’s bid for Shanghai Cooperation Organization as full member. Pakistan appreciated Chinese support in this regard.
He said they affirmed their common desire to secure their interests in the UN reforms process. He thanked President X is assurance to support Pakistani bid for full member of the SCO.
He said the nature of friendship between the two countries is best captured by expressions like friendship is higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel.
He said there are strong public sentiments driving our relations, which provide a sound basis for their strength.
The Prime Minister said the most prominent hallmark of our relationship is consistency and resilience.
He said there have been political changes in the two countries and major regional and international developments. However, our ties have remained robust. Our relations are based on shared ideals and principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit and respect.
Earlier Pakistan and China signed fifty-one agreements and MoUs for cooperation in different fields.
The agreements were signed by relevant ministers and officials of the two countries in the presence of visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif following their wide ranging talks in Islamabad Monday afternoon.
The two leaders unveiled plaques of eight projects to be undertaken in Pakistan with Chinese assistance.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Xi also performed ground-breaking of five projects through video link.
The projects and agreements related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, research and technology, education and other fields.
Before the signing of agreements, delegation level talks between Pakistan and China were held.
Pakistani delegation led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while Chinese President his country’s delegation at the talks.
The two sides explored ways and means to further strengthen their bilateral relations besides exchange of views on important regional and global issues.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan is fully resolved to deepen its relations further with China. He said China is our trusted and best friend.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said people of Pakistan were anxiously waiting for the visit of the Chinese President. He said we warmly welcome a great leader from our great friend.
He also welcomed the first lady of China who is accompanying President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese President lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying he found him an able “senior and most veteran politician”
In his opening remarks at delegation-level talks, he also appreciated the reforms introduced by his government for Pakistan’s socio-economic development. These reforms, he hoped would have far reaching impact on the economic development of the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated firm resolve of his government to strengthen all-round partnership with Pakistan to meet common aspirants of their people.
The Sino-Pak strong ties are also in the interest peace, security and prosperity in the region, he said. He expressed his pleasure that Sino-Pak relations were getting stronger by every passing day.
The Chinese President said that China and Pakistan had similarities of views on various international and regional issues.
He said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor was an important chapter in the relations of the two countries.
President Xi mentioned that China and Pakistan cooperated with each other in rescuing of their stranded nationals in Yemen.
President Xi also appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Sharif towards counter-terrorism, bringing peace and stability in the country.
He said promotion of Pak-China relations is our joint heritage and our bright future. He said strengthening of cooperation with Pakistan is part of the economic agenda of China.
The Chinese President said he chose Pakistan as the first country for visit abroad during current year.
INP