ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday underscored
the need of high level exchanges between Pakistan and China especially
among the youth so that they become the espouser of the excellent
diplomatic legacy spreading over more than sixty years.
He was
talking to a seven-member delegation of former Chinese Envoys called on
him at the Prime Minister House and shared with the Prime Minister fond
memories of their stay in Pakistan as diplomats, the PM office said.
“The
Prime Minister said that Pakistan and China are tied in the bonds of
time tested friendship which was the shining example of international
diplomacy built on UN Charter and principles of peaceful co-existence,” a
statement from the PM office said.
Prime Minister Gilani said
that the people of Pakistan and the political leadership of all the
shades had the deepest regard for the Chinese people, and the diplomatic
relations indeed reflect the aspirations of the people of both
countries.
He said that he cherished the memories of his and his
father’s visits to China. My father had the honour to meet Mao Zedong
and Premier Chou En-Lai when he visited China in 1956, said the Prime
Minister.
The Prime Minister said that the last year marked the
60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited Pakistan last year and
handed over splendid Pak-China Centre, Islamabad as a gift to the people
of Pakistan from the Chinese people, the Prime Minister acknowledged.
The
Prime Minister underscored the importance of Pakistan’s relations with
China by saying that relationship with China is the cornerstone of
Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The Prime Minister thanked the
Chinese government for the cooperation which was instrumental for making
significant strides in the fields of defence, infrastructure,
agriculture, energy and commerce and trade.
The Chinese
delegation reciprocated by saying that the people of China feel in the
same way and consider Pakistani people as their true brothers and
friends indeed.
The leader of the delegation said that there was
a need to build their strategic relationship matching fast changing
contemporary world, and expressed his satisfaction that the leadership
of both the countries was cognizant of the unfolding geo-political
realities.
The members of the delegation said that they would
continue to serve as a bridge between the two countries in whichever
capacity they would be serving in their country.
The members of
the Chinese delegation include Ambassador Zhou Gang, Prof. Tang
Mengsheng, Mr. Amb Lu Shulin, Mr. An Qiguang, Ms. Deng Bingjun, Mr. Pang
Rongqian and Ms. Tian Yan. Online
