ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and China on Saturday reaffirmed their commitment not to let bilateral strategic relationship be eclipsed by any regional and international complications, besides agreeing to jointly move forward for peace and stability in the region.
“We will never waver from our commitment to the strategic partnership with Pakistan under any regional or international complications,” Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in his speech at a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in his honour.
“China and Pakistan are good friends and good neighbours who always stood by each other through thick and thin… this relationship is time-tested and has deep regional implications … but China would not waver from its strategic partnership with Pakistan,” the Chinese premier said, responding to Gilani’s assurance of Pakistan’s support to China on all its core issues.
“We support ‘One China’ policy and condemn any attempt to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Gilani said. Jiabao said one of the objectives of his visit to Pakistan was to express support to the people of Pakistan in various fields of life for their sustainable development. He said it was important for both countries to jointly work with each other for “ultimate prosperity of their peoples by further cementing their friendship”.
Earlier, the prime minister said, “Peace and stability in our region is inextricably linked to the constructive role being played by China. We desire a peaceful environment in our region in the interest of our development and to raise the living standards of our people.”
Gilani said Pakistan also sought peaceful resolution of all issues with India, including the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute. “Success in this endeavor would usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in South Asia,” he said, adding that Pakistan deeply appreciated China’s support to Pakistan on various regional and international issues.
Gilani said Pakistan and China shared the ideals of a safe, secure and prosperous neighbourhood “with our region free from strife and conflict, and a world embracing peace, harmony and understanding … we want this vision to be translated into reality”. He said there was a convergence of interests of Pakistan and China on the global and regional levels and commonality of approach to advance the international agenda for peace and prosperity.”
Gilani said Pakistan deeply valued its friendship with China. “It remains our abiding endeavor to strengthen cooperation with China … China has also been a major partner in our socio-economic development … the longstanding ties of friendship between the two countries are underpinned by mutual trust, solid confidence and creating synergy to build mutually-beneficial relationship for progress and social harmony in our two countries as well as in Asia and beyond.”
He said a stable Afghanistan would open up vast opportunities for Pakistan and indeed for the regional countries.
