China offers to work with SAARC

BEIJING: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Sunday offered his country’s cooperation to SAARC member countries to promote peace and development in the region.

In his message of greeting on the occasion of the 12th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, he said, “The Chinese government is ready to work with all South Asian countries to promote development.” Mr Jiabo said, “Since its founding, SAARC has played an active role in the economic development, social progress and cultural exchange in South Asia.”

“Today, leaders of SAARC member states will discuss major issues to stepping up South Asia regional cooperation. The summit will exert a positive influence upon the regional development and cooperation in the region,” he added. Earlier, Chinese Foreign Office Spokesman Liu Jianchao said that China praised the joint efforts of the SAARC countries aimed at improving socio-economic life of their people.

The spokesman hoped that the SAARC summit would help improve relations between Pakistan and India.

He said China praised the steps taken by both the countries for the relaxation of tension. “We hope the two sides would take further steps to normalise their relations,” he added.

“The improvement of relations between the two countries will not serve the interest of both the countries but also will be in conformity with common inspirations of the international community,” he said.

He said China hoped that meetings between Pakistani and Indian leader during the SAARC summit would yield positive results in the resolution of their outstanding disputes. —APP

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