ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said Islamabad and Beijing shared a “converging vision” on regional and global matters.
“Pakistan and China share a converging vision on regional and global issues,” said Dar while addressing the Senate.
A Chinese delegation was present in the visitors’ gallery to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
“We are committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in a world facing complex challenges,” the foreign minister said.
Dar stressed that cooperation between Pakistan and China at the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and other international forums had been “vital in defending the interests of developing countries and promoting global peace”.
During his address, Dar said that he will be accompanying PM Shehbaz Sharif on his state visit to China from May 23 to 26, during which they will also attend celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Pak-China ties.
During the visit, they would engage with the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, besides business-to-business (B2B) meetings.
“We would also have meetings of two very important mechanisms: Pakistan-China Political Forum and CPEC Joint Consultative Mechanism,” Dar said, adding that a large multi-party parliamentary delegation from Pakistan would be attending many of these meetings.
Dar highlighted the joint initiative by the two neighbours to “promote peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East, noting that it reflected a “shared sense of responsibility as peace-loving nations to contribute to global security and stability”.
Recalling his visit to China in late March, Dar said, “We came up with a five-point initiative for a peace plan in the conflict, and this has been accepted and endorsed by dozens of countries on the globe.”
Dar noted he had been in “constant touch” with China’s FM Wang Yi and other colleagues from the region throughout the Middle East conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
The deputy PM observed that over the past 75 years, the relationship between Islamabad and Beijing has “grown from strength to strength into a robust economic and strategic partnership”.
“From the Karakoram Highway to Gwadar Port, the symbols of Pak-China friendship are spread all across Pakistan’s geography,” Dar remarked.
He added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) stood “as a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative and a shining example of shared vision for regional connectivity and prosperity”.
Stressing that CPEC has played a key role in transforming Pakistan’s economic landscape, Dar said Islamabad looked forward to its next phase, CPEC 2.0, “focusing on industrialisation, agriculture, IT and socio-economic development”.
“We are confident that the benefits of the Pak-China partnership will reach every citizen of Pakistan,” the deputy premier said, recalling the two countries’ efforts in 2013 to “overcome” loadshedding in Pakistan.
“China gave massive support in eliminating the outages and loadshedding in Pakistan. We will always remain grateful to China.”
In a press release, the Foreign Office said Dar “reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation across all domains, including political, economic, strategic, and people-to-people exchanges”.
He highlighted the “shared resolve to carry this iron-clad friendship forward for future generations”.
A delegation from China led by Cai Dafeng, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) arrived in Islamabad earlier today to attend the commemorative activities marking the 75th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic ties, APP reported.
The delegation was received by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, along with MNA Romina Khurshid Alam, convener of the Pakistan-China Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Citing a statement issued by the FO spokesperson, APP said the Chinese delegation will remain in Islamabad from May 20-21.
In his remarks on the floor of the Senate, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar noted, “Few friendships between nations carry the confidence and consistency seen between Pakistan and China.”
He said Pak-China relationship was “built on mutual trust, steadfast support, and full respect for each other’s sovereignty and core interests”.
“It has been tested by time and circumstances, and it has never wavered,” Tarar highlighted.
NA, Senate pass resolutions
The National Assembly and the Senate also passed separate resolutions to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
In the upper house of Parliament, Dar presented the resolution, which was also shared on the Senate’s account.
The resolution recalled “the historic, time-tested and iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China, a friendship that has been nurtured through the hard work and wisdom of successive generations of leadership and the enduring goodwill of the peoples of both countries”.
It said the upper house of Parliament recognised that this “fraternal relationship is based on mutual trust and respect, shared aspirations, and an abiding commitment to peace, stability, development and prosperity has withstood all tests of time irrespective of changing international environment, which continues to be a source of strength, confidence and reassurance for both nations”.
The resolution further stated that the Senate appreciated China’s “unyielding support” to Pakistan on issues concerning its core interest, and for its “steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, as well as its support for Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard national security, stability, development and prosperity”.
“Pakistan also reaffirms its unyielding support to China on issues concerning its core interest, and reiterates its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Pakistan firmly supports China on issues concerning Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea,” the resolution read.
It said the Senate welcomed the growing parliamentary and inter-parliamentary engagement between Pakistan and China, and “expresses the desire to further strengthen these ties in the spirit of dialogue, understanding and cooperation for regional and global peace, stability and development”.
The Senate “reaffirms its heartfelt appreciation for the growing cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, strategic, educational, cultural and people-to-people spheres, which continues to deepen the bonds of friendship between the two brotherly nations”, the resolution stated.
It added that the upper house of Parliament “resolves to continue extending its full support for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and underscores the importance of continued practical partnership with China for shared prosperity, mutual benefit and the socio-economic development of the peoples of both countries”.
The Senate “commits to commemorate, in a befitting and dignified manner, the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China as a symbol of enduring brotherhood, trusted partnership and ever-deepening cooperation, and to carry this extraordinary friendship forward from generation to generation”, the resolution concluded.
Meanwhile, the NA also passed a similar resolution, reaffirming the “longstanding friendship, mutual trust, and close cooperation between the two brotherly countries”, a post on the NA’s X account said.
It said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry moved the resolution, which “conveyed heartfelt felicitations to the government and people of China and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and the ‘all-weather strategic cooperative partnership’“.
“The house also reaffirmed its resolve to enhance parliamentary cooperation and deepen ties between the National Assembly of Pakistan and the National People’s Congress of China,” it added.
