Pak-China strategic cooperative partnership critical for regional, global peace: PM Gilani
BEIJING, China, May 19 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that Pakistan-China friendship and strategic cooperative partnership is an indispensable and critical factor in ensuring regional and global peace and security. “Geography and history and, above all, the pure and true sentiments of friendship and brotherhood between our peoples impel us to march forward, together, to realize a glorious future for China, Pakistan and Asia as a whole,” he stressed.The Prime Minister was speaking at a reception to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China jointly hosted by the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPPCC) here on Thursday.
Gilani termed the commemoration as “a moment to renew our common resolve to impart a new dynamism to take our all-weather friendship and strategic cooperative partnership to ever new heights.”
He paid tribute to the wisdom and foresight of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the founder of the Pakistan People’s Party and Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, the architects of Pakistan-China friendship.
“They were the ones who visualized and, indeed, grasped the essence of threads of history, spanning several millenniums of interaction between our peoples, gave a brilliant new context to the relations between Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China.”
The Prime Minister said successive generations of leaders of both countries and millions of men, women and young people have shaped the discourse and the reality of this abiding friendship between our peoples, which is manifested in abundant goodwill, spontaneous affinity, inestimable love and affection, an enduring romance that transcends all other considerations.
Gilani recalled that Premier Wen Jiabao in his address to the joint sitting of the Parliament in Islamabad in December 2010, speaking of China-Pakistan friendship, stated that “this friendship is in our blood.”
“The people of Pakistan feel the same”, he said and added “China is, indeed, our true and most reliable friend and partner. We are like one nation and two countries.”
Gilani said Pakistan and China share common mountains and rivers, adding, “We share each other’s joys and sorrows. We have a common dream and both China and Pakistan are together engaged in transforming their dreams and visions for shared peace and prosperity into a living reality.”
The Prime Minister conveyed the warm greetings of the people of Pakistan for their Chinese brothers and sisters and assured the great Chinese Nation that they will always find Pakistan by their side under all circumstances.
“We will together march forward hand-in-hand to take our friendship and partnership to new heights and to ensure for our succeeding generations a glorious future of peace and prosperity,” he added.
Gilani said the people of Pakistan and China have, since times immemorial, stood together and, from the same vantage point, witnessed the transformations in the global and regional landscape.
“We have stood together, sure-footed, with full confidence in defending what is just and in upholding the noble values of humanity. We have not only stood and watched but have marched hand-in-hand together to resist and defeat the designs of those who wish to transgress against the values of humanity,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan and China have worked together steadfastly for safeguarding their sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and for promoting peace and stability in the world and in our region.
“Once again, in these troubled times, we collectively face new challenges with the firm conviction in our belief that truth and justice will prevail,” he said and added that in these turbulent times, the only voice of reason in international affairs is that of China.”
Gilani said, China is making a splendid contribution towards the making of the twenty-first century, adding, today, China is not only respected but emulated by developing countries.
“The people of Pakistan salute the Chinese nation for holding high the banner of peace and justice in the world,” he added.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan will always and, under all circumstances, support and defend the just cause and core interests  of the Chinese nation - be it Taiwan or Tibet or the struggle against the ETIM.
He, on behalf of the people of Pakistan, expressed gratitude to Chinese friends for their solid and unstinted support to Pakistan at all times including in the 2005 earthquake and after the 2010 devastating floods.
“Pictures of Chinese rescue and medical teams, working day and night in the mountains of Azad Kashmir and the delta region of the mighty Indus in full fury, helping their Pakistani brothers and sisters, have become indelible in the minds and hearts of our people,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister said in other domains - be it economic, or trade; science and technology; defence; culture; arts; and education, Pakistan and China have enjoyed tremendous cooperation.
“From the friendship highway, called the Karakoram Highway in the North to the Gwadar deep seaport in the South, all major economic projects in Pakistan were built with Chinese assistance.”
“Even today, hundreds of Chinese corporations and thousands of Chinese men and women are working tirelessly together with the Pakistani brothers and sisters on major economic and development projects. For all this, we are truly grateful,” he added.
The Prime Minister said friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, adding, “in recent times, the leadership of our two countries has taken the decision to enhance our cooperation, especially in the domains of economy and technology, trade and defence.”
“We are giving special importance to enhancing connectivity and have already established frameworks of cooperation in economy, trade, energy, minerals as well as defence and defence production,” he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said the Free Trade Agreement; the Joint Five Year Economic and Trade Programme; the Joint Investment Company; the ongoing cooperation in the financial and banking sectors; greater interaction between their capital markets; robust defence and defence production cooperation are but a few examples of the direction that their strategic cooperative partnership has taken.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan and China are determined to take all necessary measures for closer economic integration.
In this context, establishment of the Trans-border Economic Zones; instituting Integrated Border Management System; working together on the intra-regional and trans-regional economic and development agenda; corporate sector interaction in joint projects; opening of the ICBC bank branches in Pakistan; finalization of the Currency Swap Arrangement; cooperation in earth, space and marine sciences;
and expanding educational contacts will undoubtedly contribute to further cementing our mutually beneficial all dimensional partnership, he added.
Gilani said, “we also acknowledge, with gratitude, the support that China has extended to Pakistan in our efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and Pakistan’s core national interests.”
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is a resilient nation and our people are proud and confident of a bright future.
“We have, with courage and fortitude, overcome many challenges. We see in every challenge new opportunities, which we are determined to avail for not only promoting Pakistan’s national interests but also for advancing the cause of peace and prosperity in our common region,” he maintained.
The Prime Minister said China’s economic advancement, in a very short timeframe, evokes admiration and respect, adding, a new awakening of the glorious Chinese civilization is being manifested in the realm of thought, philosophy, intellect, arts and crafts as well as in scientific and technological disciplines.
“As your closest friend, we in Pakistan truly share the sense of pride on these achievements. We are convinced that China’s economic rise; technological prowess; ancient wisdom; philosophy and thought will have a profound and most beneficial impact for humanity and mankind at large,” he added.
Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) Jia Qinglin while addressing the reception said Pakistan and China after the establishment of diplomatic ties in May 1951 have developed a high quality strategic partnership.
He said the government and people of Pakistan have always stood with China in difficult hour and recalled it was Pakistan which provided air corridor to China in 1950s and 60s.
Jia Qinglin also recalled and hailed the support of Pakistan to China for its legitimate right for UNSC seat.
He said as the two countries enjoy deep rooted, historic and strategic partnership, no matter how the international situation changes China will never sway from its support to Pakistan. 
Later Pakistani singer Jawad Khan and a Chinese singer presented songs in Urdu and Chinese languages and Chinese children performed in a cultural show.