BEIJING: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said his country is ‘anxiously waiting’ for the visit of the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. “It is not only about government-to-government contacts but it is also people-to-people contacts between the two countries,” Gilani said in an interview with Xinhua news agency. Gilani said Wen’s visit will focus on the strategic partnership, economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
He said he is grateful to China for its prompt assistance to the flood-hit people in Pakistan. The year 2011 will mark the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two neighbours. “Pakistan has declared it as the Pakistan-China Friendship Year, during which a number of events will be organised,” Gilani said Meanwhile Pakistan expects China to play a ‘bigger role’ in persuading India to hold a sustainable dialogue with it to resolve Kashmir and other issues, the Pakistan Ambassador to Chine Masood Khan said.
His comments assume significance as these came just hours before the crucial talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in New Delhi. He said Pakistan also expects China to play a bigger role in promoting peace and stability in the region. Pakistan had earlier indicated that it would seek China’s intervention in the peace process between the two countries. But, India has all along been against any third-party intervention.
After his visit to India, Wen will head to Pakistan tomorrow on a three-day visit to hold wide-ranging talks with the Pakistani leadership. Khan said China-Pakistan strategic alliance, often described as “all-weather friendship” by both sides remained unaffected by “many changes” that have taken place in both countries. Khan attributed the “solid friendship” to the mutual trust and respect existing between Beijing and Islamabad, adding that this solidarity has brought about good results in defence and military cooperation between China and Pakistan.
