He said the two countries remained in close coordination at international forums to defend the interests of developing countries.
DPM and FM Senator Ishaq Dar addressing the Senate. SCREENSHOT
ISLAMABAD:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said bilateral relations between Pakistan and China are multi-dimensional and based on trust, respect and mutual benefits, with the two countries remaining in close coordination at international forums to uphold the interests of developing countries.
The statement came as a high-level Chinese delegation, led by Cai Dafeng, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, visited the Senate to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The session was led by Senate President Yousaf Raza Gilani and Deputy Prime Minister Dar. They told senators that Pakistan remains firmly committed to the One-China policy and appreciates China’s consistent support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, security and development.
“Pakistan-China bilateral relations are multi-dimensional and based on mutual trust, respect and mutual benefits,” Dar said. He added that Pakistan and China had remained in close coordination at international forums, including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to uphold the interests of developing countries.
Dar said Pakistan had also played a role in reducing tensions between the United States and Iran and was working with other countries to promote regional peace, adding that during his recent visit to China, the two sides proposed a five-point peace plan which was later endorsed by dozens of countries.
Recalling the origins of CPEC, Dar said the project was conceived after the 2013 general elections, when a Chinese prime minister visited Pakistan during the establishment of the caretaker government. He said then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had “very meaningful meetings” with the Chinese side at the Serena Hotel.
Dar said Pakistan was then facing up to 18 hours of power cuts in cities and 20 hours in villages. “We requested China to help Pakistan overcome load shedding and power shortages. These discussions later culminated in the CPEC project, and China provided massive support,” he said.
Highlighting economic cooperation, Dar said the second phase of CPEC has already begun and will include energy projects and broader development initiatives. “From Karakoram Highway to Gwadar Port, symbols of Pakistan-China friendship are spread across the country,” he added, asserting that CPEC had transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape and Islamabad was now looking forward to ‘CPEC 2.0’.
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Dar also praised China’s support for parliamentary democracy and stressed the importance of regular parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. He announced that he would accompany Prime Minister Shehbaz on a state visit to China from May 23 to 26 for celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations and meetings with Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Qiang.
He said a large all-party parliamentary delegation from Pakistan would participate and establish the Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and meetings under the CPEC Joint Consultative Mechanism.
Concluding his speech, Dar congratulated the people and leaders of the two countries on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and expressed hope for continued cooperation for “shared peace and progress.”
Earlier, Gilani welcomed the visiting delegation and said their visit reflected the warmth and enduring trust that defines Pakistan-China relations.
Addressing the House, Gilani said the two countries were celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations based on “unfailing friendship, mutual respect and common purpose”. He recalled the oft-repeated proverb describing bilateral relations as “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel.”
The Senate President recalled former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s speech to Parliament in 2010, calling it a historic and memorable occasion.
He said that parliamentary relations between Pakistan and China promoted mutual understanding and cooperation, adding that the visit of the Chinese delegation would open a new chapter in parliamentary and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
“We welcome our extremely important friends,” Gilani said, adding that Asia’s future depends on peace and dialogue. “All issues should be resolved through talks. The friendship between Pakistan and China is important for peace in Asia.”
He described China as a model for Pakistan, saying Beijing had solved problems such as unemployment and economic development within a few decades. “China promotes global relations for development, unlike countries that once built ties for wars,” he added. Gilani also said that the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would become an example of friendship between Pakistan and China for the world.
