Punjab Assembly (PA) Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Friday said that the 75-year Pakistan-China relationship, rooted in mutual trust and cooperation, could be translated into greater opportunities for shared development, economic cooperation and public prosperity over the next 75 years.
Addressing a National Day reception hosted by the Consulate General of China at a local hotel, he said China’s development experience demonstrated the importance of local empowerment, public participation and effective governance in achieving sustainable development.
The speaker congratulated the Chinese government and people on their National Day, saying China had promoted the message of peace, cooperation and shared development alongside its economic and social progress. Referring to his recent visit to China with a Punjab Assembly delegation, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said he had the opportunity to observe the country’s development model, from rural communities to major cities and various institutions.
He said the transformation of a mountainous rural community in China from backwardness to self-reliance and prosperity illustrated the importance of involving local communities in decision-making, economic activity and the development process. Local businesses, traditional products and people’s skills, he added, had been transformed into economic opportunities.
The speaker said Pakistan also needed to focus on empowering people, strengthening local institutions and investing in human development. He said Pakistan-China cooperation could be further expanded in areas including industry, agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, education, research and skills development.
He stressed the need to strengthen links between Punjab and Chinese provinces and local institutions, saying legislatures could play an important role in sustaining Pakistan-China friendship and passing its benefits on to younger generations. He called for greater interaction among young parliamentarians, students, researchers, universities and business communities to further strengthen people-to-people ties.
Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said Pakistan-China friendship was not merely a relationship between two states but a bond between two peoples based on trust, respect and a shared future.
He expressed the hope that the next 75 years would bring greater development, prosperity, peace and cooperation for both countries.
