political parties in Pakistan had one united stance — Pakistan should have a robust bond with China and the same was also the aspiration of the constituents they represent and in fact of the entire nation of Pakistan.
Talking about economic ties between the two countries, the prime minister said the Economic Corridor was a product of joint endeavours of the two countries at the conceptual and operational levels.
He said the project had moved fast into the implementation phase.
“It’s a catalytic project that will help us to combine the geo-strategic and geo-economic streams of our relationship.”
He said the Economic Corridor will benefit the entire country and all of its provinces — Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Corridor will stimulate completion of projects in areas of transportation infrastructure, energy and industrial development,” he said.He was of the view that the Corridor was the critical connective plank of One Belt-One Road.
“It symbolizes our determination to create win-win partnerships, which threaten none, but benefit all.He said the Pakistani Government and its people were grateful to the Chinese leadership, state institutions and banks and corporations for supporting all these projects, especially power projects.
“This Parliament, the government and the people of Pakistan thank China for its commitment to help us resolve the energy crisis and make Pakistan self-sufficient in energy,” he said.He said defence ties between the two countries were strong and they were poised to become stronger in the years to come.
He pointed out that the ongoing year was the year of friendly exchanges saying, “Let the youth of the two countries inherit this unique relationship that has been developed over the decades and reached new heights.”
Our young entrepreneurs, academics, media persons, teachers, students and professionals will sustain our friendship and make it even more productive,” Nawaz Sharif said.He said the address of President Xi was a historic moment, as the two countries look at their relationship over the next 15 years and beyond.
He concluded his speech with a couplet of Poet-Philosopher Allama Mohammad Iqbal: “Open your eyes, look at the land, the skies, the air; look at the rising sun from the east.”