Says both countries remained in close coordination in international forums to defend the interests of developing countries
DPM and FM Senator Ishaq Dar addresses the Senate. SCREEN GRAB
ISLAMABAD:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that Pakistan-China bilateral relations were multi-dimensional and based on mutual trust, respect and benefits as both countries remained in close coordination in international forums to defend the interests of developing countries.
The statement came as a high-level Chinese delegation led by Cai Dafeng, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, visited the Senate to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The session was chaired by Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani and Deputy Prime Minister Dar. They told senators that Pakistan remained firmly committed to the One China policy and appreciated China’s consistent support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, security and development.
“Pakistan-China bilateral relations are multi-dimensional and based on mutual trust, respect and mutual benefit,” Dar said. He added that Pakistan and China had remained in close coordination in international forums, including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to defend the interests of developing countries.
Dar said Pakistan had also played a role in reducing tensions between the US and Iran and was working with other countries to promote regional peace, adding that during his recent visit to China, both sides proposed a five-point peace plan, which was later endorsed by dozens of countries.
Dar, who recalled the origins of CPEC, said the project was conceived after the 2013 general elections when a Chinese prime minister visited Pakistan during the interim government setup. He said then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held “very meaningful meetings” with the Chinese side at Serena Hotel.
Dar said that at the time, Pakistan was facing power outages of up to 18 hours in cities and 20 hours in villages. “We asked China to help Pakistan overcome load shedding and energy shortages. These discussions later turned into the CPEC project and China gave massive support,” he said.
Highlighting economic cooperation, Dar said the second phase of CPEC had already begun and would include energy projects and broader development initiatives. “From Karakoram Highway to Gwadar Port, symbols of friendship between Pakistan and China are spread across the country,” he added, saying that CPEC had transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape and that Islamabad was now looking forward to “CPEC 2.0”.
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Dar also praised China’s support for parliamentary democracy and stressed the importance of regular parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. He announced that he would accompany Prime Minister Shehbaz on a state visit to China from May 23 to 26 to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties and meet with Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Qiang.
He said a large multi-party parliamentary delegation from Pakistan would attend and establish the Pakistan-China Political Party Forum and meetings under the CPEC Joint Consultative Mechanism.
Concluding his speech, Dar congratulated the people and leadership of both countries on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and expressed hope for continued cooperation for “common peace and progress.”
Earlier, Gilani welcomed the visiting delegation and said their visit reflected the warm and enduring trust that defines Pakistan-China relations.
Addressing Parliament, Gilani said the two countries were celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations built on “ironclad friendship, mutual respect and common purpose.” He recalled the oft-repeated saying that describes bilateral ties as “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel.”
The Senate President recalled former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s speech to Parliament in 2010, describing it as a historic and memorable event.
He said that parliamentary ties between Pakistan and China promote mutual understanding and cooperation, adding that the visit of the Chinese delegation would open a new chapter in the parliamentary and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
“We welcome our extremely important friends,” Gilani said, adding that Asia’s future depended on peace and dialogue. “All issues must be resolved through negotiations. Friendship between Pakistan and China is important for peace in Asia.”
Describing China as a role model for Pakistan, he said Beijing had tackled problems like unemployment and economic development within decades. “China promotes relations in the world for development, unlike countries that once built ties for wars,” he added. Gilani also said that the completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would become an example of Pakistan-China friendship to the world.
