\u2018Stood like a rock\u2019
\nPM addresses Pak-China diplomatic ties ceremony, reaffirms Pakistan\u2019s support for One China policy
\n Islamabad
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said China has consistently stood with Pakistan with steadfast support through thick and thin, adding that the friendship between the two countries has grown stronger over time.
\n\u201cChina has stood like a rock with Pakistan in every difficult time,\u201d said PM Shehbaz as he was addressing a ceremony in Islamabad held on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan\u2014China diplomatic relations.
\nAddressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was the first Islamic country to recognise China, adding that the event celebrating Chinese friendship was a source of great joy.
\nThe prime minister described Pakistan\u2013China friendship as a unique example in the world which had stood the test of time.
\n\u201cPakistan fully supports the One China policy without any fear,\u201d he said and noted that China had provided exceptional support during floods and other natural disasters.
\nHe went on to say that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was important for Pakistan\u2019s economy and employment generation. PM Shehbaz said that China had lifted 800 million people out of poverty, describing its economic and military leadership as an example for the world.
\nThe prime minister recalled announcing last year that 1,000 students would be sent to China, thanking Beijing for turning the initiative into reality. He said that cooperation against terrorism was being further strengthened, adding that every Chinese citizen in Pakistan was being provided with the best security.
\nOn Middle East tensions, the prime minister said Pakistan was playing a central role in efforts to resolve the US-Iran conflict, adding that China had supported Pakistan\u2019s mediation efforts.
\nSpeaking at the ceremony, President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the leadership and people of China, especially President Xi Jinping, on the completion of 75 years of diplomatic ties, stating that the relationship between Islamabad and Beijing was built on mutual trust, unwavering support and shared development goals.
\nHe said bilateral cooperation had expanded across trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, defence and people-to-people exchanges.
\nThe president said Pakistan and China would continue supporting peace, stability, development and multilateralism at the regional and global levels. He added that both countries had always safeguarded each other\u2019s core interests and maintained close cooperation in education, agriculture, science and technology, defence and cultural exchanges.
\nPresident Zardari thanked the Chinese government for its support in Pakistan\u2019s development projects, particularly Gwadar Port, and termed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a historic initiative that continued to play a transformative role in Pakistan\u2019s socio-economic progress.
\nPaying tribute to President Xi Jinping\u2019s leadership, he said China had achieved unprecedented economic development and remarkable poverty alleviation under his vision.
\nPresident Zardari shared that he had visited the country 14 times, including two visits last year, and recently visited the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong during his latest trip.
\nOn the occasion, President Zardari unveiled a commemorative postage stamp marking the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations.
\nPresident Asif Ali Zardari, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishq Dar and other leaders also attended the Pak-China ties ceremony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Stood like a rock\u2019 PM addresses Pak-China diplomatic ties ceremony, reaffirms Pakistan\u2019s support for One China policy Islamabad Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said China has consistently stood with Pakistan with steadfast support through thick and thin, adding that the friendship between the two countries has grown stronger over time. \u201cChina has stood like a rock […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":547750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-547740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n