ISLAMABAD :
The Chinese government has acceded to Pakistan’s request to take
over the operations at Gawadar Port as soon as the term of agreement with the
incumbent Singapore Port Authority expires. This was stated by Federal
Minister for Defence, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar after completing his visit to
China, said a press release.
China is an all-weather
friend and the closest ally of Pakistan, and it can be judged from the
fact that in which ever sectors Pakistan requested assistance during PM’s
recent visit to China, they immediately agreed with Pakistan, he
said.
Chaudhry Mukhtar said that during their meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jia Bao, he, being the Defence Minister of Pakistan, raised and discussed some important strategic and economic issues.
He said, “Pakistan considers that peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan and the whole region. Pakistan supports a stable government in Kabul which shall be Afghan owned”.
He said Pakistan requested for frigates of 4400 tons on credit basis and also asked the Chinese government to train Pakistani personnel on submarines.
The Minister further stated,”We are grateful to the Chinese government for constructing Gwader Port. However, we will be more grateful to the Chinese government if a naval base is being constructed at the site of Gwader for Pakistan”.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told his Chinese counterpart that their programme of JF-17 Thunder Aircraft was going on successfully, but it would be a pleasure “for us if the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) will induct the aircraft in their air fleet. This will give us a lot of publicity to our aircraft and we will be able to sell a larger quantity of the aircraft to bring down the cost.
The Chinese government subscribed to our request to equip our Air Force with FC-20 Aircraft”.
The Chinese Premier was pleased to discuss that his government would help us in repairing Attaabad Lake and KKH road, once the clarification regarding these projects are being received to the Chinese government, he added.
He said,”We agreed on the point that stability had to be achieved in the region by the joint efforts of both Pakistan and China and by defeating the terrorists in the region.
“At this point Pakistan asked China that a message may be conveyed to the US government that Pakistan’s sovereignty should be respected. The Chinese government assured that they would help us to remove all the bottlenecks coming in the way of our prosperity”. APP
Chaudhry Mukhtar said that during their meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jia Bao, he, being the Defence Minister of Pakistan, raised and discussed some important strategic and economic issues.
He said, “Pakistan considers that peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan and the whole region. Pakistan supports a stable government in Kabul which shall be Afghan owned”.
He said Pakistan requested for frigates of 4400 tons on credit basis and also asked the Chinese government to train Pakistani personnel on submarines.
The Minister further stated,”We are grateful to the Chinese government for constructing Gwader Port. However, we will be more grateful to the Chinese government if a naval base is being constructed at the site of Gwader for Pakistan”.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told his Chinese counterpart that their programme of JF-17 Thunder Aircraft was going on successfully, but it would be a pleasure “for us if the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) will induct the aircraft in their air fleet. This will give us a lot of publicity to our aircraft and we will be able to sell a larger quantity of the aircraft to bring down the cost.
The Chinese government subscribed to our request to equip our Air Force with FC-20 Aircraft”.
The Chinese Premier was pleased to discuss that his government would help us in repairing Attaabad Lake and KKH road, once the clarification regarding these projects are being received to the Chinese government, he added.
He said,”We agreed on the point that stability had to be achieved in the region by the joint efforts of both Pakistan and China and by defeating the terrorists in the region.
“At this point Pakistan asked China that a message may be conveyed to the US government that Pakistan’s sovereignty should be respected. The Chinese government assured that they would help us to remove all the bottlenecks coming in the way of our prosperity”. APP
