ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday expressing his satisfaction over Pakistan’’s longstanding comprehensive strategic partnership with China called for re-doubling of efforts by both sides to take the bilateral relations to the new heights.
The prime minister expressed confidence that the new Chinese Ambassador would continue the tradition of the previous Ambassador in further strengthening friendship between the two countries.
He assured the Ambassador of his government’’s complete cooperation in pursuing his mission and in supplementing his efforts, in this regard.
The prime minister was talking to Liu Jian, the new Chinese Ambassador who called on him at the Prime Minister’’s Secretariat.
The prime minister stated that Pakistan deeply valued the contributions of Chinese government and its cooperation for the economic development of Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan had always adhered to `One China Policy”. It considers Taiwan as a province of China and regards Tibbet as an inalienable part of China.
The prime minister noted that both countries were committed to fight the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism and Pakistan had unequivocally condemned the ETIM nefarious activities.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to extend its fullest cooperation to China in countering and fighting the ETIM threat, even in the future.
The prime minister termed the regular contacts between the two countries at all levels particularly the people to people and youth exchanges as vital for passing on the excellent Pakistan-China ties to the future generations.
He was of the view that President Asif Ali Zardari’’s visit to China, next week, would open up new vistas of bilateral cooperation as a number of MoUs and agreements were to be signed by the two sides during that visit.
He also reiterated his invitation to the Chinese Premier to visit Pakistan and asked the Chinese Ambassador to convey it to the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that the government and people of Pakistan were keenly looking forward to welcome him, later this year.
Prime Minister Gilani thanked the Chinese government for its prompt action to send its technical team for assessing the damages caused to Karakuram Highway by Ata Abad lake.
He hoped that on submission of Chinese team’’s report, both sides will jointly take the required measures to immediately address the problem.
Welcoming satisfactory progress in on-going Karakuram Highway upgradation project, the Prime Minister stated that Pakistan would also welcome the investment by the Chinese Corporation to develop infrastructure and connectivity projects linking Gwadar to up country and establishment of transportation, communication and oil and gas pipelines corridors.
He also hoped that Chinese government would continue assisting Pakistan in the defence field and the on going joint defence production projects would be resolutely pursued.
Ambassador Liu Jian conveyed to the Prime Minister, the best wishes of the Prime Minister of China. He termed his appointment as Ambassador of his country to Pakistan as a singular honour and assured the Prime Minister of his determination to work for further strengthening and promotion of bilateral relations between Pakistan and China during his tenure.
He expressed the hope that Pakistan will also accord him the same level of cooperation which his predecessors had enjoyed.
Ambassador Liu thanked the Prime Minister for GOP’’s measures to provide security to the Chinese nationals in Pakistan and for the continued support to his country against ETIM’’s threat.
He termed Pakistan-China friendship as an important factor not only in the peace and stability of both countries but of the region and world at large.
The Chinese Ambassador said that he would convey Prime Minister’’s invitation to the Chinese Premier and hoped that Premier Wen Jiabao’’s visit would materialize by the end of this year.
The Ambassador conveyed to the prime minister his condolences and commiserations on the loss of precious lives and injuries sustained by the innocent people in the last night’’s terrorist attack in Lahore.
On the bilateral cooperation side, the Chinese Ambassador assured the Prime Minister that his government will offer all possible help to Pakistan to overcome the Ata Abad lake problem and for repairs and restoration of the affected sectors of Karakuram Highway.
He undertook to build upon the existing bilateral cooperation between the two countries during his tenure of duty, in trade, economic, investment, agriculture, defence and cultural fields.
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