Pak-China strategic co-op to expand, saus Sartaj

[Edevelop]

ISLAMABAD - Pak-China strategic partnership would expand further to bring peace, development and prosperity in the region, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said.
He was sharing views at a cultural event held at the Chinese Embassy here the other day. “The relations between the two countries are growing very fast, particularly for the development of communication and energy sectors,” he stated.
Aziz lauded what he described as China’s leading role in the region, stating it has made a solid contribution in ensuring common prosperity and development of the regional countries. He said the Pak-China cooperative partnership has ushered in a new era in line with the ideas and vision, conceived by the leadership of the two countries. “China’s financial support and the investment in Pakistan have left a very positive impact on the country’s overall socio-economic development,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong said, the year 2013 was a year of development for Pak-China relations. “Premier Li Keqiang and PM Nawaz Sharif successfully exchanged visits, and reached a series of consensus.” Bilateral trade is further boosted. Pakistan is now China’s biggest Foreign Direct Investment destination country in South Asia.
The planning and construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has achieved remarkable progress in the fields of energy development and transportation infrastructure,” he said. “We are expecting the second round of joint cooperation committee meeting to be held in Beijing in the near future.
In other areas such as defence, science and technology, and people-to-people contact, we will also work hard to make solid progress, which will further benefit both China and Pakistan, and make us more integrated with a common destiny.”
In the past year, the ambassador further said, the Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the idea of building a Silk Road Economic Belt, to link up Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East countries located along the ancient Silk Road and strengthen regional cooperation.
“China is seeking to enhance policy communication, road connectivity, unimpeded trade, monetary circulation, and understanding between the people in the whole region. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are naturally interlinked and mutually reinforced,” he added.

Pak-China strategic co-op to expand, saus Sartaj