Pakistan and China enjoy strategic relations: PM

By Shiraz Afzal - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said Pakistan and China enjoy strategic relations, sharing common positions on various issues.

He was talking to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Wu Dawei who called on him at the Prime Minister house this morning.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan will continue to lend its unequivocal support to China on the issue of Taiwan and Tibet, and noted that China has always stood by Pakistan.

Shaukat Aziz said China is a global power and Pakistan will work closely with it to develop consensus among the developing countries on UN Reforms.

The reform process, he said, covers not only the Security Council but the entire UN. He said Pakistan feels that the reforms should be based on just, equitable and democratic terms.

The Prime Minister said China's economic achievements are truly impressive and termed it a matter of great pride for Pakistan.

Sino-Pak Ties

Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan's relations with China are growing with the passage of time and have been further strengthened by the recent visit of the Chinese Premier to Pakistan.

He said the spontaneous welcome accorded by the people of Pakistan to the Chinese Premier on his recent visit reflected their love and affection they had for China.

Pakistan and China have deep rooted relations at all levels encompassing economy, diplomacy, defence cooperation, people to people contacts and strategic relations covering all areas.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan stands for peace with all its neighbours and is currently engaged in a composite dialogue processes with India to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir.

Of CBMs

He referred to various confidence building measures taken by Pakistan and reiterated that it remains committed to the dialogue process with India.

Talking about Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said a strong, stable and peaceful Afghanistan was not only in the interest of people of Afghanistan but also for the region.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan believes in "enlightened moderation" and both the countries will continue to work closely for combating terrorism and extremism.

Wu Daewei Reax

Wu Daewei said that he had extremely useful and productive talks with Pakistani authorities and expressed satisfaction over their outcome.

He thanked the Prime Minister, the government and the people of Pakistan for according a warm welcome to the Chinese Premier on his recent visit to Pakistan and congratulated Pakistan on being given the observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Wu Daewei commended the government of Pakistan on its remarkable achievement in the socio-economic fields and thanked Pakistan for its continued support to China on Taiwan and Tibet.

Pakistan against arms Race

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, commenting on the recent US-India defence agreement, said Saturday that Pakistan being a peace loving country is against any arms race and wants peace in the region.

Talking to newsmen after inaugurating a water treatment plant, he said Pakistan is however fully aware of its defence needs and is making efforts to ensure a credible and strong defence.

The defence of Pakistan is one of the top priorities of the government, the Prime Minister said.

Replying to a question about the accountability of Nazims before the Local Bodies elections, the Prime Minister said a Special Committee has been constituted to look into the complaints in this connection.

He also said under the Khushhal Pakistan programme the government has decided to ensure provision of clean potable water and the inauguration of water treatment plant is a step forward in this regard.

Shaukat Aziz said similar treatment plants would be set up in other parts of the country to provide clean drinking water.

He said the government would promote awareness among the masses to drink clean water as contaminated water causes various diseases.●

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China congratulates Pakistan on joining SCO

BEIJING, July 5 (APP): China congratulated Pakistan on joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that opened its summit meeting in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan Tuesday.

We warmly congratulate Pakistan and hope its role in the SCO will help promote closer cooperation among the regional countries in various fields, including addressing their common security concerns, said a spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Liu Jianchao at a weekly news briefing.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's presence at the summit has formally brought Pakistan into the SCO's fold. China supported Pakistan, India and Iran, granting them Observer status in the organization,the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources here said, It is a good omen that both rival countries- Pakistan and India have joined the important regional security grouping, which is engaged in promoting peace and development, as their common goal.

This will also facilitate their on-going efforts normalizing their relations and settling their bilateral disputes peacefully.

The 'observer status' will pave the way for the two countries to get the SCO's full membership at an appropriate time, the sources added.

http://www.app.com.pk/n13.htm


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'Pakistan considers China as most trustworthy friend'


BEIJING (August 30 2005): Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli said that Pakistan considered China as the most trustworthy friend and wished their decades old partnership to grow further and help improve the socio-economic life of their people.

"There have been unprecedented trust and goodwill in their relationship that stood the test of time, " she said while talking to APP on her arrival here Monday.

Anisa Zeb is visiting China on the invitation of the Chinese government to attend a three-day international women conference that began this morning with about 500 participants from all over the world.

She said she was looking forward to meet the Chinese leaders and other participants of the conference to discuss ways and means developing close interaction at the women level, particularly in the economic field.

She said she would avail the opportunity to apprise the conference of the steps being taken by the present government to improve the plight of female section of the society.

"The present government is conscious of their important role in the national development and accordingly increased their representations at all levels. Various legislative and administrative measures have also been taken to protect their due rights," she said.

Pakistan would like to share experience and knowledge with other countries to enhance the participation of women in the overall national development and overcome their social and economic difficulties, she added.

The Minister hoped that conference's deliberations would give new impetus to global women's progress and contribute to the creation of a prosperous future for all, based on gender equality.

The conference is scheduled to discuss emerging and urgent issues relating to women's development. It will also focus on the steps, need to be taken to check violence and discriminatory treatment against women.

The other topics include women in decision-making and management, economic empowerment of Women, women and poverty eradication, women and HIV/AIDS and women's human rights.

Meanwhile inaugurating the conference, Chinese President Hu Jintao said that China had incorporated women's development into the overall national program of economic and social development and vigorously promoted women's cause.

"China has set up an effective national mechanism for greater gender equality and put in place a favourable situation where society as a whole gives care and support to the women's cause," he added.


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