China VP Jianzhu backs Pak's sovereignty, integrity
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani talking to H.E. Meng Jianzhu, State Councilor of the State Council of Peoples Republic of China at PM House.
ISLAMABAD: China on Tuesday categorically extended full support to Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and vowed to work with it for progress and peace in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who met the China's Vice Premier Meng Jianzhu here at the PM House termed China as its close friend. "Your friends are our friends, your enemies are our enemies and your security is our security," Gilani said and added the two countries together can progress and prosper and bring the dividends of development to their people.
Jianzhu said the relations between the two countries have been nurtured through generations and expressed the resolve to follow the legacy. He said 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations and the history has proven that both the countries are friend indeed, he said. The vice premier termed his meeting with the president and the military leadership as "very meaningful and productive" and said the Chinese Foreign Ministry will issue a statement supporting Pakistan's efforts to uphold its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Meng also held talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and military chiefs. The military said talks focused on the "emerging geo-strategic situation" in the region and said Meng "appreciated" the role played by Pakistan's armed forces "in the fight against terror" – in stark contrast to US frustrations. "We will work together to contribute to national security and regional stability," Meng told reporters. Pakistan promised China maximum support in fighting Muslim separatists.
Prime Minister thanked China for extending support to Pakistan when it needs the most. He referred to the existing multi-dimensional co-operation between the two countries in various sectors, like economy, agriculture, infrastructure, energy and culture. He said that information technology and its exports from Pakistan to China have earned widespread recognition in China, and Pakistani IT companies were doing a booming business.
The PM particularly mentioned the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of terrorism, intelligence sharing and anti-narcotics. "We will cooperate with you to the extent you want us to cooperate," assured Gilani. He also commended the Chinese assistance in the aftermath of earthquake, Attabad Lake crisis, rehabilitation of the IDPs of Swat and Malakand, floods last year and help in coping with the devastating rains in Sindh that have inundated vast areas of the province and destroyed cotton and sugarcane crops. Chinese vice premier said Pakistan was the only country enjoying all-weather friendship with China.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the challenge and the opportunity for Pakistan and China was to reshape their exemplary friendship into a modern 21st century partnership.
This he said during his visit to the Chinese embassy to participate in China's National Day celebrations.
Addressing the gathering at the Chinese embassy, the president said that with October 1 in sight, he wishes to felicitate the people and the government of the People's Republic of China on crossing yet another grand, historic milestone. The people of Pakistan, the president said, join their Chinese brethren in celebrating that important turning point in world history, the formal proclamation by Chairman Mao of the founding of the People's Republic.
Lauding Chinese unprecedented achievements and success story, the president said that never before in the annals of history had a people taken hold of their destiny so resolutely, marched forward with such distinction and accomplished such great feats. The president said that October 1, 1949 marked not only the birth of the People's Republic, but also the birth of a miracle, a brilliant chapter in the story of human kind. This Chinese miracle continues to unfold to this day, he said.
He said that in arts and craft, in culture and commerce, in social and economic development, in science and technology, indeed in any and every field of human endeavour, China continues to break barrier after barrier, cross one threshold after another. We rejoice in your success, he continued. He said, "We also celebrate the friendship between our two peoples and it is not a coincidence that 2011 was also being celebrated in both China and Pakistan as the Year of Sino-Pak friendship."
Terming as his proud privilege to carry on the mantle, the president said that it is a matter of great pride that the foundations of historic Pak-China partnership were laid by the founder of Pakistan People's Party Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and was carried forward resolutely by Benazir Bhutto.
The president said that together, the two nations have supported each other through thick and thin and forged ahead, hand in hand. Together, he said, our future generations will accomplish much. The president, on this occasion, also thanked the government and people of China for their timely assistance for the flood victims in Sindh. Expressing hope that the people of Pakistan would be able to overcome this calamity with the assistance of friends in the international community, the president said that Chinese help was the mark of a true friend, for which, the Pakistani people were truly grateful.
Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that Pakistan would attack and remove Chinese militants hiding in tribal areas. He claimed that Pakistan would never allow anyone to use its land against China and that it will fully cooperate to root out the scourge of terrorism.
He was talking to the media after seeing off Chinese Vice Premier Meng Jianzhu on the conclusion of his two-day visit to Pakistan at Chaklala Airbase.
The minister said that there is no scope for the presence of the East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement and the Uzbek Movement in the region and that terrorists belonging to these movements would be dealt with an iron hand. He said that China has made it clear that it will never leave Pakistan alone and added that the entire Pakistani nation was thankful for this gesture.
He said that both the president and prime minister have thanked China for its unflinching support for Pakistan.
China VP Jianzhu backs Pak's sovereignty, integrity - PakTribune
