Sino-Pak ties vital for regional peace: Amir

BEIJING: The Sino-Pak strategic partnership ensured peace and development in the region, Chinese newspaper People’s Daily quoted National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain as saying.

Mr Hussain is heading a parliamentary delegation that is on a 10-day visit to China.

Mr Hussain said the two countries held similar views on various regional and international issues.

He said China and Pakistan were maintaining close contacts with each other to combat terrorism. He said security agencies of both countries exchanged information to counter terrorism and that both countries’ armed forces had conducted a joint exercise to strengthen the anti-terrorism operation. “Pakistan is a frontline country in war on terror and its efforts have been acknowledged globally,” Mr Hussain said.

He praised the socio-economic policies of President General Pervez Musharraf and said the National Assembly had allowed the general to continue as army chief so that he could carry forward his policies. “Gen Musharraf’s policies are based on a progressive vision and under his leadership, Pakistan’s economy has shown remarkable growth,” he said. Mr Hussain held talks with Abdurehim Amet, the chairman of the sanding committee of Xinjiang People’s Congress.

Official sources told APP that the two sides discussed the prospects of enhancing trade between Pakistan and the Xinjiang region. Both leaders noted that the Chinese western region could act as a bridge to promote China’s trade with Pakistan and central Asian states.

Mr Hussain said both countries could cooperate with each other to develop mineral and communication links. He said that he hoped major Pakistani companies would establish their offices in the Chinese western region to find out areas of common interest. app

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