Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday paid tribute to the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China and described bilateral ties as two souls and one heart.
\nWhile addressing a special ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the prime minister said the historic relationship between Islamabad and Beijing was built through the great commitment, devotion and dedication of the visionary leaders of both nations over more than seven decades.
\nHe said Pakistan-China relations had now reached a level unmatched in international diplomacy, adding that no parallel could be found to the trust and cooperation shared by the two countries.
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised China\u2019s remarkable transformation into a global economic and military power, attributing its rise to hard work, steadfastness and untiring efforts under successive leaderships.
\nHe said China\u2019s development journey offered valuable lessons to the world on overcoming poverty, unemployment and economic challenges.
\n\u201cToday\u2019s China is a shining example for nations around the globe that with determination and consistency, impossible goals can be achieved,\u201d he remarked.
\nThe prime minister particularly lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping for lifting over 800 million people out of poverty and creating opportunities for millions through visionary policies.
\nHe said despite China\u2019s economic and military strength, President Xi\u2019s philosophy of promoting peace, dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global conflicts had made him one of the most towering and respected leaders of the modern era.
\nRecalling memorable moments from Pakistan-China relations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif narrated how former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai received an enthusiastic welcome during his visit to Lahore decades ago.
\nThe prime minister said he still vividly remembered joining fellow students, teachers and citizens in welcoming the Chinese leader, who was accompanied by former Pakistani foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
\nHe also highlighted China\u2019s assistance to Pakistan during the devastating 2010 floods, noting that Chinese experts, helicopters and rescue teams actively participated in relief efforts across flood-hit regions.
\n\u201cThere are countless such inspiring episodes in our shared history. This friendship has weathered every storm,\u201d he said.
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the roots of Pakistan-China friendship had grown deeper with time and it was now the shared responsibility of both nations to strengthen the relationship further for future generations.
\nHe expressed confidence that Pakistan could one day develop a mini-Chinese economic model through collective hard work, reforms and sacrifices.
\nEarlier, addressing the ceremony, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng congratulated both countries on the milestone anniversary and reaffirmed Beijing\u2019s unwavering support for Pakistan.
\nHan Zheng said China and Pakistan were \u201cgood friends connected by geography and a shared future,\u201d adding that the traditional friendship between the two countries had been forged by the elder generations of leadership.
\nHe acknowledged Pakistan\u2019s support to China during difficult periods, including when the newly founded People\u2019s Republic of China sought to break international isolation and regain its rightful seat at the United Nations.
\nThe Chinese vice president said Beijing had always stood firmly with Pakistan in times of need.
\nHighlighting the progress of bilateral cooperation, Han Zheng said projects ranging from the Karakoram Highway to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0 had delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
\nHe said China was ready to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), align China\u2019s 15th Five-Year Development Plan with Pakistan\u2019s URAAN initiative, and accelerate modernization efforts through deeper collaboration.
\nHan Zheng added that amid global uncertainty and transformation, China and Pakistan had greater reasons to stand firmly together and further strengthen the China-Pakistan community of shared future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday paid tribute to the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China and described bilateral ties as two souls and one heart. While addressing a special ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the prime minister said the historic relationship between Islamabad and Beijing was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":548462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-548450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n