Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Pakistan wants China to promote peace and security

Even though Bush has granted Pakistan non-NATO ally status and Bush promises to strengthen relations with Pakistan, Pakistan is prepared to follow China’s leadership.
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Beyond the rhetoric and promises there is an ominous shadow that is creeping over the world. Countries would not be backing China if they did not perceive that China will emerge victorious over the United States.

-Am

Pakistan wants China to promote peace and security

* NA speaker says region facing many challenges, hails Sino-Pak relations

BEIJING: Pakistan wants China to play a larger role in reinforcing peace, security and development in the Asian region, said Chaudhry Amir Hussain, speaker of the National Assembly (NA), in an interview with APP on Saturday.

He said that China represented the region at the United Nations (UN) Security Council and could help settle various socio-economic problems and disputes that faced regional countries.

Chaudhry Amir praised China’s economic growth adding that as its traditional ally, Pakistan was prepared to follow its leadership. He said the region was faced with many various challenges and need to be tackled jointly by all regional countries. In this regard, China could play an important and leading role, he stressed.

The NA speaker expressed satisfaction at improving relations between China and India. “We believe this would be conducive to achieving the objectives of regional peace and common development,” he added.

He said the Chinese leadership fully supported Pakistan’s initiatives in normalising relations with India. “They are prepared to facilitate the peace process,” he said. The NA speaker said Pakistan and China held similar position on various regional and international issues adding that the two countries cooperated together in the fight against terrorism. “In this regard, we have a common agreement among our respective ministries and security agencies. Pakistan condemns the terrorist activities of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement and the Eastern Turkistani Liberation Organisation,” he said.

In regards to Sino-Pak relations, Chaudhry Amir said they was growing, despite changes in the international environment and the domestic situation of the two countries. “This friendship is rooted in a history of over two thousand years and remains in the sentiments of our two people,” he said.

He said both countries had supported each other during difficult times adding that the relationship was based on principles of peaceful co-existence, non-interference in respective internal affairs, mutual respect and adherence to the UN Charter.

“We are now forging an all-round comprehensive partnership in the new century which is in accordance with the joint declaration signed by President Pervez Musharraf and President Hu Jintao in November last year,” said Mr Hussain.

He viewed his visit to China as highly successful, noting that it provided an opportunity to review and promote existing bilateral ties of the two countries.

During his meetings with Chinese leaders, it was decided there should be greater people-to-people interaction through exchanging of visits by parliamentarians, businessmen and youth.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qiyue, the Chinese Foreign Office spokeswoman, hoped the visit of the NA speaker would play an important role in promoting bilateral relations. She said the speaker had a successful visit to China. “The Sino-Pak relationship is in very good shape. We call it an all weather friendship which has stood the test of time,” she added. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-11-2004_pg7_38