President Asif Ali Zardari Monday termed Pakistan's relationship with China based on "depth and vitality" that increases with each passing day and said it was rooted in history and based on mutual trust and respect. The President who joined an event marking the celebration of 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries here at the Chinese embassy said Pakistan was proud to have China as a friend and vowed that it would always stand by China.
"We will always stand by China as a true and trusted friend and partner," he said and paid tributes to the wisdom of the architects of Pakistan-China friendship. He said, "The celebrations this evening demonstrate the sentiments of friendship in the hearts and minds of our people." The President said the people of the two countries were joined in bonds of friendship and trust.
"Ours is a relationship that is not matched by any other relationship between two sovereign countries," he said. "It is a relationship, the depth and vitality of which increases with each passing day," the President added. He said Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai were the true architects of this friendship and paid tributes to those who succeeded these great leaders and pursued their vision.
"I also salute all those men and women, both in Pakistan and in China, who over the last six decades, have worked with devotion and commitment to further deepen and broaden our friendship." He said strengthening Pakistan-China relations have been a central focus of the government of the Pakistan Peoples Party and noted that over the past three years, the architecture of Pakistan-China partnership has been built on a firm foundation.
"We take great pride in the achievements of China," he said and added, "these achievements attest to the genius, skills and talent of the Chinese people and of the wisdom of their leadership." He in particular thanked Ambassador Liu Jian and the Chinese friends, for organising a special cultural evening. President Zardari ended his brief remarks with the slogan of "Long Live Pak-China Friendship".-PR