Expressing satisfaction at the development of bilateral relations between Pakistan and his country, Ambassador Luo Zhaohui of China has said that the two countries are good friends, good neighbours and good partners. He was speaking at a seminar titled 'Pak-China Relations' here at the Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI) on Monday.
He said the two countries have always supported each other on a number of issues making the bilateral relations a fine example of state to state relations. Luo Zhaohui said that Pakistan was the second country with which China had signed Free Trade agreement (FTA).
However, he said bilateral relations needed new direction in the broad areas of political, economic, and trade sectors. "We should do more to speed up trade and explore new ways to increase the level of trade to achieve the already agreed $20 billion target in five years," he added.
He said that the CM Pak had invested $900 million in Pakistan, and it was for the first time that a Chinese mobile company had invested in other country. Referring to the number of MoUs signed between the two countries, he said their implementation needed highest level of cooperation. "We have good political relations but we should do more in economic and trade cooperation," he added.
Luo Zhaohui said he was grateful to the Pakistan authorities for taking number of steps for the security of Chinese personnel working in Pakistan. Talking about the attack on Chinese personnel in Pakistan, the ISSI director general Dr Shireen Mazari said that it had been used as a ploy to harm relations.
She hoped that China and Pakistan would maintain the steady course without jeopardising the relationship, which had evolved in a substantive manner. Shireen Mazari said that presently the Pakistan-China relationship is undergoing transformation in response to the changing international and regional environments that are in play. "The strategic nature of the Pakistan-China relationship is well-established and is not an issue of debate," Shireen observed.
Former minister of state of foreign affairs, Inamul Haque appreciated China's support to Pakistan in economic, political, diplomatic and military sectors. Speaking at the occasion, Fazal-ur-Rehman said that Pakistan has offered to serve as trade and energy corridor for China adding there are several components of this concept in terms of creating infrastructure facilities.
He said that Gawadar deep-sea port has become operational, understanding has been reached to up-grade KKH, besides railway link, gas pipeline, oil refinery and storage facilities, which are under consideration. He added that once necessary infrastructure is in place, this corridor would play an important role in inter-regional integration between South Asia, Central Asia and the western regions of China.