ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto
Zardari is leading a high level PPP delegation at International
Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) held in the Chinese town
of Nanning. This is Bilawal’s third visit to China and second in his
capacity as Chairman PPP. The first visit led to the signing of
Memorandum of Understanding between The PPP and the Chinese Communist
Party to forge closer ties. It is the first historic MOU of its kind
signed between Chinese Communist Party and any political party from
Pakistan.
Besides speaking at the Conference as the head of PPP
in the company of some of Asia’s leading political leaders Bilawal also
utilized the opportunity and met political party leaders of China and
some other countries.
The Chairman is leading a PPP delegation
that included some of the Party’s heavy weights like Secretary General
PPP Jahangir Badar; Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar
and MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Hashaam Riaz Sheikh, Special Assistant to
the Chairman PPP was also included in the delegation.
The visit
of Bilawal Bhutto is the first major visit of a high level delegation
of PPP to China and signaled beginning of closer cooperation at the
highest level of Party echelon as well as paving the way for visits by
delegations like that of the youth and women.
The President had
taken along his daughters on visit to China symbolizing the trickling
down of people to people contacts to the third generation following the
openings made by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and later by Shaheed
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Introducing his daughters to the Chinese
President during one of his eight trips to China the President had
remarked that their coming to China symbolized that the torch of
friendship between the two countries had now passed into the hands of
the third generation of Bhuttos.
Bilawal’s participation at the
international political Conference revived the memories of his mother
Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto who eleven years ago represented the
Pakistan Peoples Party at the First International Conference of Asian
Political Parties in Manila.
Highlighting Pakistan’s importance
in war against terror, Bilawal said, "My country lies wounded as a
victim of terror. We don’t lack the will. We lack the means. We are
neither complicit nor are we incompetent. We lack capacity to face the
world’s enemies on our own".
Taking exception to the criticism
of Pakistan he said, "At a time of global recession and natural
disasters when Pakistan requires sympathy, support and assistance from
the west we are met with suspicions, accusations and demonization".
Reiterating
PPP policy he said that military means alone were not enough to fight
militancy. "We know that drones, raids and unilateral actions are not
the answers and dialogue, deterrence, development and democracy is the
only roadmap to peace".
Echoing the vision of his mother of the
Asian century Bilawal also described the transformation of Asia’s role
at the global level as `nothing short of miraculous’ adding "we may be
witnessing the birth of a new world order."
And to give a
vision for the future Bilawal called upon the Asian countries to set up
an Asian Monetary Fund, strengthen economic cooperation and take steps
to guard against future financial crises.
He also voiced strong
support for China and lamented the tendency among some to demonize
emerging Asian economic superpowers like China and called it `the fear
factor’.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also spoke of the devastation
caused by floods in Pakistan and recalled the resilience of the
Pakistani nation to address challenges.
He also called for peaceful resolution of regional disputes and joint action against transnational crimes.
The
PPP Chairman during his visit also held a meeting with Wang Jiarui,
Minister of the International Department of Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee.
The two leaders emphasized on carrying
forward the legendary friendship between Pakistan and China to the new
heights in the years to come.Minister Wang Jiarui invited the
leadership of PPP to China for increasing interaction with the
leadership of Communist Party of China (CPC).
He recalled his
earlier meeting with Chairman Bilawal in 2008 and before that with
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and welcomed the third generation of
PPP leadership’s close friendship with their Chinese counterparts.
The
two leaders also agreed that Pakistan and China should increase
regional cooperation for ensuring peace, harmony, and equitable
development in the region
The Chairman PPP also met Jose De
Venecia, Founding Chairman and Co-Chairman of the International
Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and former speaker of the
House of Representatives of Philippines. He appreciated the idea of
holding this conference which allows them to better understand each
others’ political and cultural values and traditions. Online
