ISLAMABAD – Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao inaugurated the Pak-China Friendship Centre at Shakarparian on Saturday.
Wen Jiabao, who is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan had also laid the foundation stone of the centre in 2005, inaugurated the centre along with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilan and said that the centre would be a symbol of friendship between the two countries. He said Pak-China Friendship Association would organise 1000 free cataract operations of Pakistanis at the Beijing Hospital.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on the occasion, “The centre reflects close bonds of friendship and affection that exist between the two countries. Chinese people have once again reached out to the people of Pakistan, this time to those blinded by cataract and thousands would again be able to see the world.”
Built at a cost of Rs 3 billion, the centre has an 800-seat auditorium, a conference centre, exhibition area, a multi-purpose hall, and an art and dance centre. Jiabao planted a sapling of pine in the premises of the centre to mark friendly relations between Pakistan and China.
Gilani announces 2011 as year of friendship: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday said that Pakistan would celebrate 2011 as “Year of Friendship” to mark 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relationships between Pakistan and China. Addressing a luncheon hosted in honour of visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at a hotel he said, “Pakistan and China have decided to jointly celebrate 2011 as a year of friendship between the two countries”.
He said that China is Pakistan’s most trusted and reliable friend and the people of Pakistan welcome Chinese Premier and members of his entourage from the core of their hearts. “We take great pride in our all-weather and time-tested friendship and our relations are rock solid and rooted in our national ethos,” Gilani said.
Political, military leadership attend lunch for wen: The country top political and military leadership on Saturday set aside differences to welcome Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao at a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Khalid Shamim Wyne, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani and Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman were present on the occasion.
Prominent among those who attended the lunch were PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, while the MQM was represented by Dr Farooq Sattar. Senate Chairman Farook Naik and National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza also attended the lunch.
