Pakistan considers China’s security as its own, says Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif says Pakistan considers China’s security as its own and the two countries will fight together to eliminate terrorism in their shared pursuit for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.
“Our joint efforts in this regard have succeeded but we need to intensify them to accomplish our objective,” Nawaz said in his speech in the joint sitting of Parliament thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping for visiting Pakistan.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s stance on ‘One China Policy’. In the international forums, he said, Pakistan will continue to support ‘One China Policy’ and China’s stand on its core national interests.
Nawaz also appreciated China’s solidarity with Pakistan in its quest for peace and stability in South Asia through engagement on all outstanding issues.He also praised President Xi’s vision of ‘community of shared destiny’, underpinned by “One Belt, One Road”.
“This vision is anchored in the strong desire of the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe to cement their common bonds for a better future,” he said.In his warm remarks for the Chinese friend, Nawaz said it was a great day for Parliament and for the people of Pakistan.
“We are receiving a dear friend and the leader of a great nation that is our next door neighbour,” he said. “President Xi Jinping! You are a special guest. Confucius said centuries ago: “How delightful it is to have friends visiting us from afar!” So are we delighted to have you amidst us. You are, however, not a friend from afar, but one who is so close to our heart,” Nawaz said.
“President Xi Jinping! As you can see, leaders and representatives of all the political parties are here to welcome you.”He said the presence of leaders of all political parties in Parliament testified to the fact that all 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.”