Soomro backs triangular partnership

Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro has supported the idea of promoting Pakistan, China and India triangular partnership and said it could be helpful to serve the socio-economic interests of the people.
"There are fields like trade, tourism and education that provide common grounds for working together," he said in an interview with APP in Beijing.
"We welcome improvement of China, India relations and hope it would be conducive to peace and development in the region," he said, adding it could in no way affect the existing deep-rooted and trustworthy Sino-Pak friendship.
Soomro said Pakistan, China and India could enjoy the opportunity to actively collaborate at the level of regional forums, like Asean, for achieving economic prosperity.
To a question, he said the Chinese leaders fully appreciate the improvement of Pakistan-India relations and they considered it a good omen for peace and development in the region.
COMMON OBJECTIVE: About Pakistan's alliance with USA, Soomro said it was based on the national interests. "We are co-operating with the USA to eradicate terrorism, since it is a common objective and also the strong desire of the entire international community."
"Pakistan", he said, "is itself a victim of terrorism. Therefore, the government and the people in the country are actively participating in the international fight against terrorism."
In this regard, Soomro pointed out Pakistan and China also shared common perception and they were working together. He also referred to the recent joint anti-terrorism exercise, undertaken by the armed forces of the two countries.
The Senate chairman, who concluded his 10-day trip to China on Wednesday, said his talks with the Chinese leaders were highly successful and productive giving boost to their bilateral ties, especially at the levels of the two parliaments.
Besides holding talks with Chinese central leaders Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin and Wu Bangguo, he also negotiated with provincial leaders during his visit to Urumqi, Xian and Shanghai. Both sides expressed their strong resolve to carry forward their decades-old partnership.
It was decided that parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people contacts would be increased to broaden the areas of bilateral co-operation.
The two sides emphasised that the two governments should lay greater emphasis on the development of the economic co-operation, so that it could match their existing close political and diplomatic ties.
BILATERAL TIES: The visit, he added provided him an opportunity to meet representatives of the banking sector and some Chinese entrepreneurs seeking their support for economic collaboration. Soomro, who led a 17-member parliamentary delegation, said the "all-weather" and "evergreen" friendship has grown continuously in the recent years despite changes in the domestic situation of the two countries and the international environment.
The successive leadership in the two countries had nurtured this close bilateral co-operation. "It will continue to remain close, deep, vibrant and strong."
"Their friendly relations have served the best interests of our two countries and they remain an anchor of peace and stability in the region and have helped to promote international understanding and amity, he added.