ISLAMABAD – Secretary General of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and China in economic fields.
Jhagra stated this during his meeting with a seven-member Chinese Parliamentary delegation headed by Li Junr U, Vice President of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), here on Friday.
During the meeting, he said, “We must expand our relations in all sectors ranging from economic, political as well as socio-cultural domains in order to become strategic partners for benefit of the people of the two nations.”
This region is going to have more than 50 per cent share of world economy by 2050 and we as old friends and partners must rise to the occasion for taking advantage together in the comity of nations, he said.
He expressed his gratitude for all sort of Chinese help and assistance in capacity building in various sectors in Pakistan and hoped that such engagements would be further deepened.
He expressed warm wishes on behalf of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to the newly elected leadership of China and the Chinese Communist Party and also extended invitation to the Chinese delegation to visit Punjab during the current or any future visit to Pakistan.
Iqbal Zafar Jhagra also stressed the need for more frequent exchanges of the delegations from all walks for generating better understanding and enhancing cooperation. He told the Chinese delegates that there is no controversy among the people belonging to various hues and shades of political spectrum in the country regarding our friendship with China. Only unanimous opinion prevails ‘cultivate and foster our deep-rooted relation into an evergreen tree’. He said, “We believe in the ‘One China policy’ and continue to support China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The PML-N leader maintained that the recent decades have seen the use of many new global problems such as unilateralism, cultural hegemonies, terrorism and environmental degradation.
“These problems contribute to polluting the international relationship systems which exists and the principle of protecting mutual interests among countries and regions.
Some non-traditional security issues like terrorism, cross-border criminal activities, drug trafficking, energy and environment can be gradually solved through consultation on equal footing to reach consensus and adopt counter measures on the basis of international laws.”
He said, “China has played a vital role in implementing the policy of peace full coexistence and common development under the banner of ‘peaceful rise’ strategy which has inspired great comfort to its neighbors. With the passage of time china’s relation ship with its neighbors has improved substantially thus guaranteeing regional peace and stability by virtue of which it is firmly considered by this region as a force to boost regional prosperity.”
Jhagra further said that China has undergone earthshaking changes and scored remarkable achievements, which attract worldwide attention. Sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co existence has been the hallmark of china’s successful policies thus emerging as a strong force in the maintenance of regional and world peace.
He appreciated that the Communist Party of China and Chinese people have always worked for the cause of promoting world peace and development and have always stood on the side of justice and worked in unity with the people of all countries and all the progressive forces in the world.
“With the new challenges and also greater opportunities lying ahead we hope that China continues to strive for world peace and development together with Pakistan in order to further strengthen the brotherly and friendly relations for a splendid future,” the PML-N leader said.
He hoped that by the grace of God Asia has evolved to become the most dynamic continent in the 21 Century with the phenomenal economic growth, a bright future and great potential by virtue of the role played by China.
Vice President of the Chinese Communist Party lauded the PML-N role toward strengthening the democracy and the democratic institutions in Pakistan and extended invitation to the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to visit China.