Chinese Friendship Valuable Asset For Every Pakistani: Shehbaz

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Jun, 2017 ) : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Chinese friendship was a valuable asset for every Pakistani and Pakistan was proud of Pak-China friendship.

The CM expressed these remarks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, held to discuss matters of mutual interest, promotion of Pak-China ties, projects of CPEC and regional situation.

The meeting was held at Prime Minister House, Islamabad, said a handout issued here. The chief minister said that friendship between both the countries had been converted into economic cooperation as they held similar opinion on regional and international matters.

He said China had always stood with Pakistan in testing times and proved its friendship in real terms. He said, "A new era of development and progress has ushered in Pakistan due to projects of CPEC which have become a reality after their completion in record time and we have to jointly work to make projects of CPEC successful." The CM said the belt and road vision of the Chinese President was the vision of peace, development and progress.

He said the current government had set a new example in the world by speedily completing development projects and now international institutions openly acknowledged speedy progress and sustainable development in Pakistan and transparency in Pakistan was also being praised by international institutions.

He said billions of rupees of investment of China in Pakistan represented trust of China in the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his policies and all institutions of Pakistan were forwarding projects of CPEC in a form of a movement.

Shehbaz Sharif said, "We are thankful to the role of the Chinese Foreign Minister in the implementation of the economic package for Pakistan." He said the economic revolution in the region was not the matter of distance future now due to the cooperation between Pakistan and China because the whole world praised CPEC as it was the result of joint thinking and vision of both countries.

The Chief Minister said the leaderships of Pakistan and China were making joint efforts for world peace, unity and harmony and for this purpose, both countries as the members of international organisations were making every possible effort for peace and stability.

He said the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister would further help strengthen regional cooperation and progress besides diplomatic relations. About the Chinese investment and cooperation with Pakistan, the Chief Minister said relationship of love and respect in the top leaderships at the highest level were resulting in profitable economic benefits for the people of both countries through projects of economic development.

About the recent incident of terrorism, Shehbaz Sharif said that forces which were creating impediments in the way of CPEC projects were involved in the killing of innocent people in Pakistan through terrorist activities and these forces wanted to stop development process to fail the projects of international significance but Pakistan Army and all other security institutions were alert and those involved in terrorism in Pakistan would be brought to justice.

He said terrorists were joint enemies of Pakistan and China and both countries would face this enemy jointly. He said joint enemy would have to be eliminated through joint efforts at the international level because sustainable development was not possible without elimination of terrorism and sustainable peace in the region was needed for development and progress.

He praised the positive role of China for peace, cooperation and development and said all regional countries should cooperate for elimination of poverty, unemployment, and economic problems. The Chief Minister on this occasion conveyed the message of best wishes of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi expressed his grief and sorrow over the recent incident of terrorism in the country and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He also paid tributes to the sacrifices of Pakistan for elimination of terrorism.

He said China was working shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan for development and peace and CPEC would bring about peace and prosperity in the region. He said Pak-China friendship had always remained exemplary in every period and China would continue playing its role for development and progress in Pakistan.

The Chinese Foriegn Minister said both the countries wanted peace and cooperation and would promote trade and industry, and cooperation between both countries in every field was praiseworthy. He praised speedy progress and economic stability in Punjab and efforts of Shehbaz Sharif for good governance and said it was praiseworthy that Punjab was making speedy progress.

Meanwhile Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner in the honour of Chinese Foreign Minister. The Chinese Foreign Minister thanked the Chief Minister for warm welcome. Ambassador of China in Pakistan Sun Weidong, Foreign Advisor Sartaj Aziz, Minister of State Maryam Aurangzaib, Finance Minister Punjab Dr.

Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Tehmina Janjua, Sardar Mehtaab Khan, Chief Secretary Punjab, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, important personalities and other members of delegation were also present on this occasion.