Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday inaugurated a new Consulate General building here, the third in China after Shanghai and Hong Kong, saying it would bolster cooperation between the two countries in all fields. The complex in Sichuan will cover the fast emerging parts of western China and neighbouring provinces.
Chengdu is home to the joint Sino-Pak venture of JF-17, multi-role aircraft manufacturing plant and several other high-tech industries. The Prime Minister, who is on a six-day visit to China, termed the opening of the Consulate General as another major milestone in the development of Pakistan-China relations.
He said Pakistan and China were determined to reinforce their exemplary friendship by building strong partnership in economic and trade fields, adding that Pakistan was proud of its friendship with China.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said China was Pakistan's most trusted friend, good neighbour and good partner, and expressed determination to further strengthen this friendship and take this partnership to the new heights. He said the two countries stood by each other and shared views on major international issues.
The Prime Minister said Sichuan and Punjab were "sister provinces" as the Chinese province lied in a region that extended upto Pakistan. He described the province as fast becoming another showcase of development of China's western regions.
The Prime Minister said he was "deeply impressed" by the great economic transformation that this region had achieved. He, however, noted that despite the economic development, the beautiful city of Chengdu had retained its traditional charm and maintained an atmosphere of tranquillity and harmony.
He said there were immense opportunities and excellent prospects for developing "win-win cooperation," especially in economic and trade areas for the development of a vibrant partnership in tourism, culture, education and science and technology.