President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work with China and other nations to deepen cultural exchanges, strengthen creative industries and promote understanding and tolerance.
Zardari arrived in Chengdu on Friday to start a 10 -day visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese government. On the first day, he attended the second Golden Panda Awards and had interviews with higher members of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC).
Addressing the international culture forum, the president declared that culture remained a “vital bridge towards peace, prosperity and a common future for humanity”.
He expressed the full support of Pakistan to the vision of China of “the exchange of civilization and mutual learning” and underlined the importance of the global development initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), emphasizing their concentration on sustainable development, regional stability and inclusive international cooperation.
Zardari noted that the world underwent dramatic changes, praising President Xi Jinping for having offered “a cooperation path and win-win solutions instead of confrontation”. He congratulated the winners, describing their creativity as an artistic enterprise which “transcends borders and unites people through shared human values”.
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He also thanked the government of the Sichuan province, the Chinese Federation of Literary and Artistic Circles, and the Forum organizers for their hospitality.
During a meeting with Li Shulei, a member of the political bureau and secretariat of the CPC central committee and Minister of the Department of Advertising, Zardari underlined Pakistan’s commitment to extend the contacts of people to the population and public diplomacy.
Li declared that he and President XI appreciated the role of Zardari in strengthening the Pakistani-Chinese partnership, qualifying the two countries “brothers dressed in iron”. He added: “The world needs and deserves the scent of books rather than the smell of cannon powder.”
While Pakistan and China are preparing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic links next year, Li said that the partnership testified to the lasting obligations between their peoples.
Besides Chengdu, Zardari will visit Shanghai and Xinjiang during his stay from September 12 to 21, where he will meet provincial leaders. According to the office of the president, the visit will include discussions on economic and commercial cooperation, progress on CPEC, multilateral commitment and the reaffirmation of mutual support on questions of fundamental interest, while emphasizing joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability.
In August, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to China to attend the Summit of the Council of Heads of State (CHS), from August 31 to September 1.
During the visit, Pakistan and China have signed multiple understanding memorandums (soft) and joint ventures worth 8.5 billion dollars to deepen business collaboration with business in agriculture, industry, health, trade, mining and minerals.
Addressing the signature ceremony in Beijing, Shehbaz described agreements as the “long march of economic development” between the two nations. “This long walk will start in Beijing and will end in Islamabad,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that the initiative aims to transform Pakistan into a flourishing economy by attracting billions of investment, creating millions of jobs and strengthening the country’s financial foundations. “We are resolved to work tirelessly until this long economic development march reaches its destination,” he said.
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Shehbaz also expressed his gratitude to Chinese leaders and people for their support for the territorial integrity of Pakistan, sovereignty and socio-economic development. He congratulated China for welcoming the OCS summit in Tianjin and prolonged the congratulations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war of the world’s anti-fascist war.
The Prime Minister also met Chinese President Xi Jinping in the great people of the Pekin people, during a meeting considered to be significant in the context of current geostrategic developments. Pakistan’s links with the United States have changed in recent months, while Washington’s relations with New Delhi have deteriorated.
During the talks, the two parties reaffirmed their “ferron partnership” and promised to deepen cooperation. Shehbaz added that no one could shake the strong link between Pakistan and China.
