Pakistan, China strategic partners today and forever: PM Imran

Pakistan, China strategic partners today and forever: PM Imran
Pakistan, China strategic partners today and forever: PM Imran

 

BEIJING: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday reaffirmed to the Chinese nation that they will always find Pakistan as most reliable partner, an ironclad brother and trusted friend who will stand by China, not only amid the gentle tides of peace and prosperity, but also in the rising storms of peril and predicaments. “Let us join our hands together to build a Closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the New Era,” he said in an article contributed to China”s one of most prestigious newspaper Global Times to mark the special occasion of 70 years of diplomatic ties and the 100th anniversary of the found of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Following is the text of the Prime Minister”s article:- “This is a historic moment for the peoples of Pakistan and China. Our two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and China is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. On this landmark occasion, I congratulate the governments and peoples of the two countries. Longstanding ties between our peoples date back to the ancient Silk Road, when traders, academics, monks, and ascetics like Fa Xian and Xuan Zang traversed treacherous Karakoram Mountains and laid the foundation of beneficial interactions and exchanges between the Chinese civilization and the Indus Valley civilization. Pakistan was the first Muslim country to recognize the People”s Republic of China in 1950 followed by the establishment of formal diplomatic relations a year later. Over the past seven decades, our fraternal relations have withstood the vicissitudes of time, and grown from strength to strength, unaffected by changes in the regional and international environment. With unrelenting efforts of successive generations in the two countries, our relationship has transformed into an “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. “During this momentous journey, Pakistan became the most vocal supporter of the lawful rights of China in the United Nations. It also facilitated the famous “secret” visit of Mr. Henry Kissinger, the then US National Security Advisor, to Beijing in 1971, which became the harbinger of Sino-US rapprochement. This July marks the 50th anniversary of that seminal development, which had a decisive impact on East-West relations. The Pakistan-China relationship is characterized by deep mutual trust, understanding and commonality of interests. This unique, time-tested, and ironclad brotherhood has scaled many peaks. We support each other in our respective core interests. Pakistan has always upheld the “One-China Policy” and supported China on Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and South China Sea issues. China has stood by Pakistan in supporting our key strategic, economic, and developmental priorities. The people and government of Pakistan deeply value China”s just and principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Pakistan-China friendship is rooted deeply in the hearts of the people of the two countries. We have the finest tradition of standing by each other through difficult times. For instance, Pakistan provided support to China during the earthquake in 2008 and China helped Pakistan in the wake of devastating floods in 2010.In line with this tradition, our cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic has remained exemplary. In the wake of the outbreak of the pandemic, Pakistan extended diplomatic and material support to China. President Dr. Arif Alvi visited China in March 2020 to express solidarity with our Chinese brothers and sisters. Similarly, China has provided critical material support and COVID-19 vaccines in our fight against the pandemic. This vital Chinese assistance has helped Pakistan fight the pandemic and save precious lives. China”s own fight against COVID-19 has set a new standard for the world to emulate. Since 1949, China has made remarkable accomplishments in all walks of human endeavor. After assuming office in 2018, I have visited China three times, which has provided me with a rare insight into the philosophy and strategy behind its rapid economic development. In just 40 years, China is leading global efforts for mitigation of climate change and exploring new frontiers in aviation, space, and medical sciences. China”s stellar growth and prosperity provide a model for developing countries for national development and socio-economic progress. Pakistan is one of the earliest supporters and participants of President Xi Jinping”s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). We emphatically endorse the spirit and philosophy of the BRI, which seeks to transcend national boundaries and lay bridges for a win-win cooperation and closer economic integration for a shared future. As the flagship project of the BRI, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) complements my government”s vision of “Naya Pakistan. “The CPEC is a transformational project.

Pakistan, China strategic partners today and forever: PM Imran
Pakistan, China strategic partners today and forever: PM Imran