President, premier hail China’s role in regional peace

ISLAMABAD: Presi­dent Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to further streng­then bilateral relations between Pakistan and China, appreciating Beij­ing’s constructive role in promoting peace and stability in South Asia and the Middle East. They expressed these views on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. In his message, President Zardari said: “On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, I extend warm felicitations to the leadership and people of China, especially President Xi Jinping, on the historic occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.” He said that over the past 75 years, Pakistan-China relations had stood as a remarkable example of enduring friendship, mutual trust, strategic cooperation and steadfast support for each other’s core interests. “Our two countries have always stood together in solidarity amidst evolving regional and international circumstances,” he said. The president said Pakistan highly valued President Xi’s deep personal commitment to advancing the shared vision of building an even closer Pakistan-China community of shared future in the new era. Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz recei­ved a high-level Chinese delegation led by Cai Dafeng, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, which is visiting to participate in the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic rela­tions between Pakistan and China. Welcoming the Chinese dignitary, the prime minister recalled the historic and time-tested all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China. “In the context of the regional situation, the prime minister appreciated China’s constructive role in promoting peace and stability in South Asia and the Middle East, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional harmony and multilateral cooperation,” an official statement said