President Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan and China's co-operation in regional and international affairs will keep growing for their mutual benefit and to meet the common aspirations of their people. "Despite changes at the regional and global levels, the deep-rooted ties between the two countries have been gaining strength with the passage of time," the President said in his message to a leading Chinese magazine 'China's talents' that was published at the advent of the Chinese new year.
The magazine gave a prominent coverage to the Sino-Pak relations with special message from the President, which says, " Pak-China relations span several millennia, dating back to the Indus valley civilisation and beyond. This relationship is based on mutual trust and includes co-operation in the political, economic, defence, cultural and several other fields."
He noted that China had made invaluable contribution to their country's economy, particularly in the development of infrastructure and industrialisation.
Some of the major projects established in Pakistan with the assistance of the Chinese government include the Krakuram highway, Pakistan aeronautical complex, Saindak copper and gold project, Heavy mechanical complex, Heavy rebuild factory, Guddu thermal power station, Jamshoro power station, Chashma nuclear power plant, Ghazi Brotha power project, Indus highway and recently the Gwadar deep-sea port and Thar coal power-generation projects.
The President expressed his confidence that in the years to come, their existing bonds of friendship would grow, with special focus on their economic co-operation.
Pervez Musharraf said there was tremendous scope for further co-operation in all areas of mutual interest, adding the leadership of the two countries was determined of making concerted efforts to realise the existing potential, bringing their friendship to a higher level in the new century.
The media had an important role to provide the new dynamics to their relations, he said, and hoped a magazine of caliber of 'China's talents' would play a major role in that regard.
Meanwhile, Magazine Editor-in-Chief Wang Xiaopeng told newsmen the Magazine that enjoyed confidence and support of the Chinese government, would soon arrange a businessmen delegation to Pakistan for exploring the possibilities of their future co-operation in the socio-economic sector.
He said the Chinese leadership and people attached high importance to their friendship with Pakistan and were willing to push forward those relations to a higher level with greater strength and vigour.
The Magazine, he added wished to play its role, enhancing people-to-people contacts between the two countries.