Zubair Qureshi
Friendship with China is the focal point of Pakistan’s foreign policy as the People’s Republic of China is a strategic partner and a reliable friend of Pakistan.
Chairman Senate of Pakistan Sadiq Sanjrani said this at a farewell dinner hosted in honour of the outgoing Ambassador of China Yao Jing here Friday. The farewell dinner was attended by a large number of parliamentarians, diplomats, top civil and military officials, Foreign Office representatives and businessmen from the two countries.
Sanjrani said not only the governments and the rulers of the two countries were close friends but peoples of the two countries also loved and respected each other.
“This bond of friendship is our common legacy and we are custodians of this decade-old relation that is deeper than the oceans and higher than the Himalayas,” said the senate chairman. He also paid glowing tributes to the vision of President Xi Jinping for giving the developing and the less-privileged nations Belt & Road Initiative that aims at boosting huge economic activity and bringing them at par with the advanced nations.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the B&R Initiative and has turned the friendship between Pakistan and China into strategic partnership, further said Sanjrani.
Senate Chairman also praised the leadership qualities of the Chinese president under whose leadership China has grown to be a progressive, peaceful and powerful nation. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has also referred to Chinese leadership’s efforts to eradicate poverty and lift millions of people out of poverty, said the Senate Chairman.
Ambassador Yao Jing on the occasion thanked the Chairman of the Senate and expressed his belief in lasting friendship between China and Pakistan.
He also presented Sadiq Sanjrani the Volume III of President Xi Jinping’s “Governance of China.” Ambassador Yao Jing said the partnership between China and Pakistan under changing geostrategic situations was of vital importance. Pakistan and China believe in peace and will continue to work for the cause of peace, he said, reiterating China’s support to Pakistan over Kashmir.
Pakistani people, Yao Jing said, had immense love and regard for China and he was leaving Pakistan with treasure of such memories. The farewell reception was also attended by Leader of the House in Senate Dr Shehzad Wasim, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, Deputy Speaker NA, Qasim Khan Soori, Information Minister Shibli Faraz, Religious Minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri and member of the Senate of Pakistan.
