FM meets Pakistani experts on China-Pakistan relations

On 30 May 2012, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, during his official visit to Pakistan, met with representatives of Pakistani think tanksand gave keynote remarks on deepening the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Pakistan.

Yang said that during the visit, he has reached broad consensus with Pakistani leaders on ways to deepen friendship, expand cooperation and enhance mutual support between the two countries in this new era. Today, the China-Pakistan strategic partnership of cooperation, marked by all-weather friendship and all-round cooperation, has become an example for harmonious coexistence and friendly cooperation between countries with different social systems. Our friendship has shown such enormous vitality because the two sides have adhered to the following principles in developing our relations. First, Chinese and Pakistani leaders have always approached our relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective.

Second, our two countries have abided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, respected each other's choice of development path suited to our respective national conditions, and rendered support to each other on issues bearing on our core interests. Third, our two countries have carried out fruitful practical cooperation.

Fourth, our two countries have closely coordinated and cooperated with each other in international and regional affairs, firmly upheld the common interests of our two countries and other developing countries, and endeavored to maintain regional and international stability. No matter how the international and regional situation may evolve, China and Pakistan should remain true to these principles and be firmly committed to maintaining and carrying forward our strategic partnership of cooperation.

This is conducive not only to the fundamental interests of our two peoples, but also to regional and global peace, stability and development.

Yang noted that the world has entered the second decade of the new century and both the international and regional situations are undergoing complex and profound changes. Peace, development and cooperation represent the trend of our time.

The Asia-Pacific region where our two countries are located is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, yet it is also a place where tensions and conflicts of various types keep emerging. Countries in the region face both rare historical opportunities and multi-faceted challenges and risks. Under this new situation, China and Pakistan need to work closely together to seize opportunities and meet challenges.

We should focus our efforts on developing the economy and improving people's well-being. For us, this is the most important and most pressing task. We must adapt ourselves to the changing environment and bear in mind the common interests of our two countries in pushing forward our cooperation in various fields. In this way, we will better meet the expectations of our people and contribute to peace, stability and development of our two countries and the entire region.

Yang said that on the political front, China and Pakistan should maintain high-level exchanges and continue to support and help each other on issues that involve each other's major interests. We should support each other's efforts in resisting foreign interference, upholding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fostering a sound external environment.

We need to enhance contacts between political parties, parliaments and local governments and share experience in governance in order to deepen and broaden our political relations. On the economic front, China and Pakistan should fully unleash the potential of our business cooperation and make the FTA an even bigger success. China will continue to provide sincere and selfless help to Pakistan for its economic and social development.

We will enhance cooperation with Pakistan in energy, infrastructure and agriculture on a priority basis, intensify exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in finance, science, technology and aerospace, and help Pakistan raise its capacity for self-development. On the security front, both China and Pakistan face the threat of terrorism, separatism and extremism. We must step up counter-terrorism and security cooperation and jointly fight the above "three forces". China maintains that Pakistan has made important contribution to the international campaign against terrorism and made tremendous sacrifice in this regard.

The fight against terrorism requires the common efforts and sincere cooperation of the entire international community. In fighting terrorism, both its symptoms and root causes should be addressed in order to eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism. On the cultural front, China and Pakistan should increase people-to-people exchanges and promote full understanding between people of the two countries. In this connection, the media, think tanks and academics should play a bigger role and contribute their ideas and proposals on growing the bilateral relations and helping our people know each other better.

We encourage young people of the two countries to engage more deeply with each other and play their part in carrying forward the worthy cause of China-Pakistan friendship. On the international and regional front, China and Pakistan should take advantage of our frequent exchanges at the top and other levels to have timely and in-depth discussions on strategic and hotspot issues of common concern. We should engage in effective cooperation and coordination at the United Nations and other international and regional organizations to uphold our common interests. 

In closing, Yang said that as Pakistan's strategic partner and close neighbor, China will, while pursuing its own development, continue to be actively involved in Pakistan's economic and social development endeavor and bring the benefits of China-Pakistan friendly cooperation to more people in both countries. He expressed his belief that with joint efforts, the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation will embrace an even brighter future.

Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of Pakistan-China Institute and Secretary-General of PML(Q), Ehsan ul Haq, former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Riaz Khokhar, former Foreign Secretary and Ashraf Azim, President of the Institute of Regional Studies, among others, participated in the meeting and shared their views and proposals on further developing the China-Pakistan relationship.