Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday said the new government would continue focus on improving relations with China, as strong Pakistan-China ties were a guarantee to peace, security and stability in the region.
"There is a continued improvement in our ties over the years and the government would continue the tradition of cementing these relations," the Foreign Minister told the media team accompanying President Pervez Musharraf at the conclusion of his six-day state visit to China.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there was a deep understanding between the political leadership of the two countries. "China is a reliable and trustworthy friend and has proved to stand by Pakistan over the years, despite the changes in leadership of two countries," he said.
He recalled that former prime ministers the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto gave due importance to Pakistan-China ties. About talks with Chinese leaders, he said both the sides reviewed the whole sphere of relations between the two brotherly countries, and expressed satisfaction over the progress, particularly on defence, strategic co-operation other development programmes.
He said both the sides were of view that there was a need for translating warmth in their peoples and other spheres into a more meaningful economic interaction. He said the Chinese foreign Minister would be visiting Islamabad from April 25 to 26 to follow up the President's visit and hold discussions to improve the implementation procedures.
"The people and leadership of China continues to hold Pakistan and its people in high esteem," he added. He said during the visit, several new areas were identified where the two countries could have extensive co-operation. He said Pakistan pointed the energy shortage in country as its requirements far outpace the production.
Qureshi said Pakistan was trying to meet its energy shortage through nuclear, hydel, coal-fired generation, besides utilising alternative sources of power generation. He said Pakistan had invited China to study various options for generating electricity in Pakistan, particularly through hydel.
He said China could finance Pakistan for the Diamer Bhasha dam as it had the required expertise and experience in handling such large projects. He said China also had the technology in the coal-mining sector and could help Pakistan develop its Thar coalfields for energy generation. He said there were several investments
Opportunities in Pakistan, and referred to Pakistan- China joint five-year trade and development plan. Under its framework, China could invest in Pakistan in several areas, he added.
The Pakistan-China joint investment company was already functional, and said President Hu Jintao had also extended his full support in urging the Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister said Pakistan and China had vast scope in expanding ties in tourism and people-to-people contacts, and added that the number of Chinese tourists would increase to one million by 2020. He said Pakistan had several Buddhist sites that could be very attractive for the Chinese tourists.
In the sphere of education, the Foreign Minister said both the countries could enhance co-operation, and mentioned the five-university consortium that would set up a science and technology university in Islamabad.
He said China had 1.5 trillion dollars as reserves and together with the liquidity, technology, and strong political ties, there could be a mutually beneficial relationship. He said Pakistan had also sought support from China in helping in a shipbuilding and repair facility along the Gwadar port.
The port, he said, would be linked to China through the upgraded Karakoram Highway, with a rail track, fibre optic and oil and gas pipeline along it. He said Pakistan could also utilise its location as a hub for transit between China, Central Asian Republics, Middle East and Europe and reap the benefits.
Comments
Comments are closed.