Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Sun Weidong has said that China and Pakistan were committed to safeguard their common interest in the region.
Talking to APP after a seminar titled "Strategic Stability in South Asia and East Asia: constructive role played by China", the Chinese Ambassador said that regional peace was key to economic and social development on the South Asia. "We have decided to uplift our strategic and economic co-operation and our bilateral relations will reach new heights".
"This year is Pak-China friendship year and mutual exchange of delegations of students, think-tanks, cultural troupe will further strengthen between the two countries," he added.
He said that China was ready to cooperate with SAARC to safeguard common interests. He said that China and Pakistan were committed to bring peace process back to Afghanistan.
He said promoting peace and stability in neighbouring countries including South Asia was core of China's foreign policy, adding peaceful South Asia was in the interest of China".
He said that China treated every country equally on basis of mutual trust and confidence irrespective of its size. He said that co-operation between China and South Asia was also important to cope with various challenges and alleviating poverty from the region having 3 billion populations.
Ambassador Sun Weidong said that China was the biggest investor in Pakistan and it wanted to further deepen its relations with South Asian countries.
For financial assistance and local development in the regional countries, he said China had set up Asian Investment Bank. "We have to work together for common security challenges and disputes should be resolved through dialogue to overcome wider challenges", he added.
He said China advocated joint efforts to help promote regional development goals.
Ambassador Sha Zukang, President, China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) in his address said that China was a main force and pillar for peace and stability in South Asia. He said that China was working for peace and stability of the world.
In his address, he gave historical background of China relations with neighbouring countries like Russia, North and South Korea and Japan. He said that Pakistan was all weather friend of China not an ally.
Director General, Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI)
Masood Khan said China was a great and steadfast friend of Pakistan. Both the countries had passed through difficult times and seen many transitions, but our friendship remained constant, he added. "Strong ties with China are the keystone of Pakistan's foreign policy", he said. He said China was working with its neighbours to promote peaceful development by investing in infrastructure, energy and industrial development. Its momentous decisions were shaping the strategic and economic landscape of the Asia Pacific region, he added. "Its overriding doctrine is peace, not war; defence not offence; co-operation not confrontation. China upholds the principle of security for all".
He said Pakistan had propounded a Strategic Restraint Regime in South Asia comprising nuclear restraint, conventional balance, and conflict resolution. As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan supports the objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, he said.
Masood Khan said China had always played a constructive role in South Asia. Pakistan and China had a great partnership in the United Nations and other multilateral forums. Pakistan and China also work together to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention and Chemical Weapons Convention regimes, he added.
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