Senators for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan, China

* Bukhari, Elahi also call for boosting economic, trade ties between
two countries

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Members of the Pak-China Friendship Group of Senate have underlined the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China for mutual benefit of people of the two countries.

They were of the view that consensus among all political parties exists on friendship with China and political support to further consolidate bond of friendship between the two countries. Members of the group expressed these views in a meeting with a seven-member Chinese parliamentary delegation at the Parliament House on Tuesday. The delegation was led by Chen Jianguo, vice chairman of Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee of People’s Congress of China.

Members of the Pak-China Friendship Group observed that relationship between Pakistan and China was not confined to governments only but it was a relation between people of the two great nations. They emphasised the need for further consolidating the socio-economic ties and called for more interaction and exchange of visits at parliamentary, students and business levels.

Senators Afrasiab Khattak, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Dr Saeeda Iqbal and Surriya Amiruddin said that Pakistan strongly supported one China policy. They observed that extremism and terrorism were common threats and there was a need to enhance cooperation to fight the evils posing threats to socio-economic development. The senators pointed out that there was a huge potential for investment in hydro-electricity in Pakistan and invited Chinese investment in this sector. Increasing communication networks can contribute to progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan, they added. The members of the Friendship Group expressed their confidence that Pak-China friendship will grow, intensify and deepen further with the passage of time.

Chen Jianguo agreed with the views of members of the Upper House and said that both China and Pakistan were all-weather and time-tested friends and had supported each other in difficult situations. He termed his visit a ‘Trip of Friendship’ and expressed the hope that the bilateral relationship based on mutual respect, trust and confidence would be further strengthened. He also extended invitation to the members of Pak-China Friendship Group of Senate to visit China. Leader of the Chinese delegation thanked the senators for extending warm welcome at the Parliament House. Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari on Tuesday said Pak-China friendship is an all-weather and time-tested relationship based on mutual trust and respect. “There is a national consensus in Pakistan over the country’s relations with China and time is ripe to further deepen our multidimensional engagement and take our strategic bilateral relation to new heights for the benefit of the people of two friendly and neighbourly nations,” he said. He was expressing these views in a meeting with the Chinese delegation.

Talking about depth of Pak-China relation, the Senate chairman said that both the countries enjoyed convergence of views on all bilateral, regional and international issues. “We are grateful for China’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We value Chinese assistance in fields like defence, strategic and development projects of great national significance for socio-economic uplift of people of Pakistan. We acknowledge China’s generous and timely help in the aftermath of 2010 and 2011 devastating floods and 2005 earthquake,” he added.

Separately, talking to the visiting Chinese delegation, Senior Federal Minister for Industries and Defence Production Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi underlined the need for paying greater attention to regional trade for boosting economy of Pakistan. The delegation called on him at his residence on Tuesday. During the meeting, views were exchanged regarding increasing trade relations between the two countries.

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