Pakistan People’s Party Vice President Sherry Rehman said that PPP has always been, and remains committed to, cementing Pakistan’s relationship with the Communist Party of China (CPC) and People’s Republic of China.
“Our friendship with the People’s Republic and the Communist Party of China has only gained strength over successive generations of both the parties,” she said, and added, “It is true that Pakistan’s strategic relationship with China was conceived by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, cultured by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, cemented by Asif Ali Zardari and will now enter a new phase of further cooperation with the younger cohort of leaders in both countries under the Chairman Bilawal Bhutto”.
“It was through President Asif Ali Zardari’s multiple visits to Beijing that the groundwork was set for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of President Xi’s bold ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative for regional connectivity across the Eurasian landmass,” she said.
Commenting on the progress of joint ventures, she said that: “PPP remains wholly committed to, and will continue to make all possible efforts for the smooth and effective implementation of the CPEC. As a project that could connect multiple regions, the CPEC will not only strengthen Pak-China ties, but spur better relations between countries in an evidently tense regional environment. The PPP is firm in its belief that the CPEC can act as a force multiplier for Pakistan and we will continue to work towards its optimal realisation to this end”.
Rehman was emphatic in reminding everyone that it was under Asif Ali Zardari’s leadership during the last PPP government that the stage was set to scale up the bilateral relationship between China and Pakitan.
Rehman also said that the PPP has also played a leading role in forging a political consensus on the significance of Pakistan’s relationship with China, including the historic awarding of Gwadar Port entry to Beijing.
