Trade touches $12 billion mark: 'China wants to enhance cooperation on priority basis'

China is interested in enhancing co-operation with Pakistan in energy, infrastructure and agriculture on a priority basis, said Ambassador of Republic of China to Pakistan, Liu Jian on Wednesday. Ambassador said this while inaugurating China Hall at Strategic Studies Institute Islamabad (SSII). Director General SSII, Dr Shireen Mazari and patron-in-chief former Ambassador Inam-ul-Haq received him.
Intensify exchanges and co-operation between the two sides in finance, science, technology and aerospace help Pakistan to raise its capacity for self-development, Chinese ambassador maintained. On the security front, he said, both China and Pakistan face the threat of terrorism, separatism and extremism, adding, "We must step up counter-terrorism and security co-operation and jointly fight these forces".
China would as always, firmly support Pakistan in formulating and implementing a counter-terrorism strategy that fits Pakistan's national conditions and help Pakistan bolster capacity in combating terrorism, he mentioned. He said the fight against terrorism required common efforts and sincere co-operation of the entire international community and in fighting terrorism both its symptoms and fundamental causes should be addressed in order to eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism.
The ambassador also touched upon the new blueprint for China's future development and the bilateral relations. He said the blueprint is the pursuit of 'Chinese Dream' based on Chinese reality and future vision. "One goal is that by the year of 2020, China's GDP and per capita incomes for both urban and rural residents will double that of 2010. By the year 2049, we will build China into modern country or developed country", he said.
On the political front, he said both countries should maintain high level exchanges and continue to support and help each other on the issues that involve each other's major interests. "We need to enhance contacts between political parties, parliaments and local governments and share experience in governance in order to deepen and broaden our political relations", he said.
In her welcome address, Shireen said that SSII had dual function. It was not only think-tank, but also would start academic courses for students. Initially diploma course would be started in a single faculty, which would be expanded on later stage. She thanked the ambassador for gifting the institute with 400 books and conference system. Inam-ul-Haq recalled some of the projects executed by Pakistan with the co-operation of China. He mentioned that Chasma Nuclear Power Plant, Gowadar Port Development Project, Neelum Jehlum Hydro Project, Bashaw Dam, Karakrum Highway were few projects, which showed strong co-operation within two countries.
He also informed the audience that China supported the stance of Pakistan at international level in conflict of Syria. Pakistan asked for a peaceful and amicable solution of the conflict. He said the volume of trade between Pakistan and China reached to $12 billion, which had potential to grow further.