—Senate chairman says Pakistan fully committed to implementing CPEC
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing Saturday said that China will continue to stand by Pakistan for its socio-economic development and prosperity of its people.
The ambassador said this while addressing the audience at a grand reception hosted here at the Chinese Embassy to mark the 69th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, which falls on October 1.
The event was attended by a large number of guests, including federal ministers, leaders of political parties, parliamentarians, senior civil and military officers and foreign diplomats, members of think tanks, journalists and representatives of Chinese companies working in Pakistan.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Mian Shehbaz Sharif, former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor.
Ambassador Yao Jing along with his spouse and Deputy Chief of Mission Zhao Lijian, Jiang Han, Bao Zhong, Meijing and Yang Ming received the guests.
The event started with the playing of national anthems of the two countries by the children of Pak-China Government Primary School Gwadar. A Chinese troupe presented the country’s traditional art performance on the occasion at the main lawn of the Chinese embassy.
In his welcome speech, the ambassador deliberated upon China’s economic rise and its leading role in the World’s affairs in promoting President Xi Jinping’s concept of formation of a community of shared destiny, particularly in the context of Belt and Road Initiative.
“China has made remarkable achievements in recent years, becoming the second largest economy and contributing to over 30 per cent of global annual growth,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the bright future of China’s development, the envoy said that in the recent years, China has made great achievements in all fields which are a source of strength for the common development of the entire world.
While praising the growing Sino-Pak strategic ties, Yao Jing said that the multilateral mutually beneficial cooperative partnership has reached a new height following the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The CPEC has added a new dimension to the exemplary ties between Pakistan and China and the fruits of the multi-billion-dollar project [CPEC] are coming to the people its early harvest projects are near completion, the ambassador said.
“There is steady growth in the decades-old friendship between Pakistan and China that is meeting the common aspirations of their people,” he added.
China, the ambassador said, under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, has made great achievements. We adhered to the path of peaceful development, advancing reforms and opening up and firmly promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, he added.
Jing expressed his confidence that a prosperous and strong China will make an even greater contribution to world peace and development. “We would like to share our development opportunities with the world. We are also ready to make joint efforts with all the countries to build the community of shared prosperity for mankind.”
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, who was the chief guest on the occasion, spoke highly of the growing friendship between Pakistan and China and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to implement the CPEC.
He also praised President Xi Jinping’s vision of formation of a community of shared destiny, stating that people of Pakistan are jubilant over the economic rise of China.
He conveyed warmest greetings to the people and the government of China on their National Day.
“We highly value our relations with China. Our friendship has stood the test of the times,” he said.
“Friendship with China is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and the change of government in the country does not affect their bilateral ties in any manner whatsoever. The two sides enjoy complete trust and understanding in the bilateral ties, including construction of CPEC related projects,” he added.
“We are grateful to China for its all-out support,” the senate chairman said, adding that CPEC is a manifestation of common objectives and shared destiny of the two countries.
