——— Unveils statues of Jinnah and Mao Zedong
——— Terms Pak-China strategic ties vital for regional peace
——— Labels relations with China as ‘anchor of regional stability’
——— Seeks more efforts to further boost exchanges with Beijing
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pak-China regional partnership is an anchor of regional stability and beacon of hope for global peace in times of challenging global circumstances.
He was addressing a ceremony to unveil statues of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong in Islamabad on Thursday.
The statues were presented to the prime minister by Chinese master sculptor Yuan Xikun on birth anniversaries of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Mao Zedong falling on 25th and 26th of December.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said Pak-China all-weather strategic partnership is touching new horizons with cooperation ranging from defence to the fields of agriculture.
He said Pakistani students are going to China early next year for advanced studies in agriculture and they will serve as a bridge between Beijing and Islamabad, giving a new boost to our friendship.
The prime minister mentioned the recent exchange of visits with China, during which he and Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed the common desire for economic progress and prosperity.
He said this gift of statues will always symbolize the unshakeable bond between Pakistan and China.
Earlier, addressing the event, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the cultur-al bond between Pakistan and China has gained more strength.
He said the two countries not only share borders but the mountains and our friendship is as strong as the mountains we share.
The minister mentioned that the two countries have taken great initiatives for further strengthening their relationship.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says defense and strategic ties between Pakistan and China are vital for peace and stability in the region.
He was talking to Commander of the Ground Forces of the People’s Liberation Army of China, General Li Qiaoming, who call on the prime minister in Islamabad on Monday.
He said the deep-rooted ties between the two nations enjoy broad public, political, and institutional support in Pakistan, making them indispensable for the progress and development of both countries.
The prime minister warmly welcomed General Li to Pakistan and underscored that Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and trusted friends.
Expressing satisfaction over the deepening military-to-military exchanges between the two countries, the prime minister said these relations form the foundation of their bilateral relationship. Speaking on the occasion, China’s Commander General Li said, as an iron brother, strategic partner, and reliable friend, Beijing places the highest priority on its relationship with Pakistan.
He expressed China’s desire to elevate their bilateral friendship to new levels of cooperation and col-laboration. Recognizing the role of Pakistan’s armed forces in promoting regional peace and stability and combating terrorism, General Li reiterated the PLA’s commitment to further expanding its cooper-ation with Pakistan to enhance the capacity building of the two armed forces.
The two sides focused on various aspects of the Pakistan-China friendship, particularly the bilateral defense and strategic partnership.
