Pakistan and China have agreed on working jointly for further promoting strategic partnership in all spheres and establishment of peace besides expanding co-operation in all areas of activities.
This was stated by President General Pervez Musharraf in a dinner hosted in honour of his Chinese counterpart President Hu Jintao at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.
President Musharraf noted that friendship between Pakistan and China has gained more strength in the evolving global scenario. Pakistan attaches much importance to its friendship with China. Sino-Pak relations provides guarantee for lasting peace and stability in the region. This will grow stronger with the passage of time.
The President observed that the relations between the two countries are based on the norms of mutual trust, respect and co-operation. These relations will gain further momentum with the visit of Chinese president to Pakistan.
The Sino-Pak friendship is exemplary and Pakistan is keen to establish durable relations with China in all sectors, he underlined. Citing to composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India President said Pakistan wants that all the contentious issues including core issue of Kashmir are resolved with India through peaceful means. We want to make these talks result-oriented with sincerity.
President General Pervez Musharraf said the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao will prove to be a milestone in Sino-Pak relationship. No matter how difficult the circumstances were Pakistan and China remained steadfast friends and this friendship will continue in future as well.
The president said this has been only possible through the confidence reposed by the leadership both sides into each other. We are pretty much confident this confidence will remain intact, the president underlined.
Citing the economic boom of China, President Musharraf said the economic revolution of China is not only a good omen for China but also for the entire globe. Pakistan being a neighbour of Pakistan will reap the fruits of its proximity with China, which will bolster the economic co-operation between the two sides.
The friendship between our people has a long history of rich interaction spreading over two millennium. In ancient times, the people of Pakistan ad China created splendid distinctive civilisations. In modern history our people waged heroic struggles against subjugation and wrote a glorious chapter in the pursuit of freedom, human dignity and economic development.
"We have different systems and culture. Yet we have weaved together all strands of our relations into a beautiful mosaic. We have forged bonds of friendly co-operation in diverse fields. It is not an exaggeration when we say that the friendly times between Pakistan and China are a shining example of good neighbourly relations. The backbone of our bilateral bonds is a strong faith and trust in each other, which we have nurtured with care and devotion," he added.
"We share idealism for a safe secure and prosperous neighbourhood. Although the world today is undergoing profound and complex changes, co-operation for peace and development remains the dominating theme of the time. There is growing trend towards multi-polarity and economic globalisation. Science and Technology are making unprecedented advances, regional co-operation is deepening and there is increasing independence among nations.
All this has created rare opportunities for development. On the other hand imbalance in global development widening gap between North and South and the combination of traditional non traditional security threats."
President Musharraf said China has made admirable contribution to global peace and development. Its moral voice in international affairs and its efforts upholds principles of equity and justice are a great strength for developing countries.
Hailing China's role in development of Pakistan, president Musharraf said we appreciate the role China played in our national development. Karakoram Highway, Gwadar deep seaport, Chashma power plant and several mega projects are examples of this co-operation between the two countries.
The president said Sino-Pak friendship has prospered in the testing times. He said China has got the observer status in Saarc, which will eventually benefit Pakistan. The observer status of China will make the Saarc more vibrant.
Addressing the reception, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Sino-Pak friendship is long lasting and exemplary and this will go a long way in the future.
He said Pakistan and China should take advantage of their experience and further promote strategic partnership. Chinese President also hailed the dynamic, charismatic leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf saying Pakistan has faced many challenges successfully under the able leadership of President Musharraf. His efforts for peace and stability in region and world are commendable.
Earlier, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz greeted Hu and his wife at Chaklala Airbase near Islamabad after they flew in from Mumbai after a three-day trip to India. Hu's four-day visit to the Islamic republic - the first by a Chinese leader in a decade - will centre around talks expected to focus on boosting trade and potentially aiding Pakistan's nuclear programme.
Soldiers fired off a 21-gun salute for the Chinese leader and huge red banners showing Hu and his Pakistani counterpart were strung up around the normally staid capital Islamabad and along the route from the airport.