Pak-China friendship shining example of int'l diplomacy: PM Gilani
22 February, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that Pakistan and China are tied in the bonds of time-tested friendship, which was the shining example of international diplomacy built on UN Charter and principles of peaceful co-existence.
He said that the people of Pakistan and the political leadership of all the shades had the deepest regard for the Chinese people, and the diplomatic relations indeed reflect the aspirations of the people of both countries.
The prime minister was talking to a seven-member delegation of former Chinese envoys, which called on him at the PM House and shared with him the fond memories of their stay in Pakistan as diplomats.
Gilani said that last year to mark the 60th anniversary, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Pakistan and handed over Pak-China Centre as a gift to the people of Pakistan. He said that relationship with China was the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.
He thanked the Chinese government for the cooperation which was instrumental for making significant strides in the fields of defence, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, commerce and trade.
The prime minister underscored the need of high-level exchanges between the two countries, especially among the youth so that they become espouses of the excellent diplomatic legacy spreading over more than sixty years.
The Chinese delegation reciprocated by saying that the people of China feel in the same way and consider Pakistani people as their true brothers and friends indeed.
The leader of the delegation said that there was a need to build their strategic relationship matching fast changing contemporary world, and expressed his satisfaction that the leadership of both the countries was cognisant of the unfolding geo-political realities.
The members of the delegation said that they would continue to serve as a bridge between the two countries in whichever capacity they would be serving in their country.
In separate meeting with a group of senators at the PM House, the prime minister said it was his utmost endeavour to bring the country's less developed parts at par with the developed regions, keeping in view the imperatives of social justice.
The group of senators comprising Abbas Khan Afridi, Engineer Rashid Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Idrees Khan Safi and Khan Afridi apprised the PM about the ongoing development projects in their respective areas.
They said that the present government has allocated record funds of Rs15 billion for the development schemes in FATA. They further said that in the previous regimes FATA was allocated not more than Rs 4 billion for various development activities.
The senators suggested that the name of Munda Dam might be changed into Mohmand Agency Dam because the site of the proposed dam was situated in the Mohmand Agency, and also that Munda Dam means nothing in the context of its location and tradition.
The prime minister informed the senators that during his visit to Qatar he took up the matter with the 'Amir of Qatar' to absorb 1000 youth from each Agency in Qatar which would be a very effective deterrence against extremism and terrorism.
The Amir of Qatar graciously agreed to his proposal to provide employment to the skilled labour and professionals in Qatar in various development projects, he added.
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