Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Opens Seminar on Building China-Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny in the New Era

The Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security & Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, opened a two-day Seminar on Building China-Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny in the New Era jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad at Pakistan-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad on 5 August. The Adviser in his augural address referring to famous Chinese Scholars Fa Xian and Xuan Zang, who visited Texila, a city located in the north of Islamabad, to study Buddhist Sculptures said that today’s Karakorum Highway that traverses the Himalayan peaks and valleys and served as the friendship bridge between Pakistan and China reminded us not only of the past but also reflected our common resolve to usher in a glorious future for our peoples. This seminar is continuation of our centuries old interaction between the scholars and researchers of the two countries, he added.

The Adviser said that the new leadership of Pakistan and China has embarked on historic journey of building China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which would further bind the two countries as “one community with a shared destiny”.

The Adviser highlighted that CPEC starting from Xinjiang, would run through major cities and industrial hubs of Pakistan and reach Gwadar Port connecting China with Karachi and Gwadar. The goods manufactured in Xinjaing and other western areas of China would reach South Asia, Middle East and Central Asia through this corridor at much less cost than any other route.

The Adviser said that the foundation of unique and all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China is based on deep faith and complete trust in each other. Constancy, strength and resilience are its hallmarks. Based on mutual understanding, respect and support for each other’s core issues, the relationship between our two countries has become model for state to state relationship in contemporary era.

Reiterating the resolve of government of Pakistan to eliminate terrorists, Mr. Sartaj Aziz said that security of all foreign nationals especially Chinese working in Pakistan is our top most priority; those attacking China nationals want to drive a wedge between the two countries. We will not let them succeed in their nefarious designs, he added.

The Head of Chinese Scholars’ delegation, Ambassador (R) Zhou Gang, said that the people of China consider Pakistan as their closest friend. He said that the Chinese leadership attached high priority to its relations with Pakistan. He added that CEPC, a landmark achievement of the new leadership in the two countries, would transform the whole region economically and bring sustainable stability.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador in Islamabad, Mr. Sun Weidong, termed Pakistan-China friendship as robust and exemplary. He said that a peaceful, prosperous and economically developed China means more opportunities for development for Pakistan and the region. Pakistan is bound to benefit from China’s development. The China-Pakistan relationship will also be consolidated, enhanced and upgraded in the course of China’s development, he added.

The Chinese Ambassador further said that China supported Pakistan to formulate and implement counter-terrorism strategy based on its own national conditions and for the efforts to maintain the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We should advocate common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia, strengthen security cooperation, and jointly fight against terrorism forces like the “East Turkistan Islamic Movement” for peace and stability. With the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, more and more Chinese citizens have come to live and work in Pakistan. We appreciate Pakistan’s efforts to create a good environment for cooperation and ensure their security, The Ambassador added.

Islamabad
6 August 2014

200/2014