All political forces united on friendship with China: Mushahid

ISLAMABAD: Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed Tuesday said it was a unique feature of Pakistan-China friendship that all political forces, the government and the parliament, the armed forces and civil society were united on the relationship with the neighbouring country.   The ties with China were the most vital component of Pakistan’s foreign policy since it served its national interests, he added.

Senator Mushahid expressed the views during meeting of the Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee with Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said press release.

The meeting was held here at the Parliament House and also attended by Chinese Ambassador  Yao Jing and Director General (China), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ayesha Ali.

Welcoming the Chinese delegation, Senator Mushahidm who is chairman of Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, said Pakistan and China had a strategic relationship based on a track record of supporting each other on their respective “core interests”.

He said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was today the centerpiece of Pakistan-China friendship. He lauded the Belt and Road initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping as the biggest diplomatic and developmental initiative of 21st century.

He said the balance of economic and political power was shifting from the West to the East and China was a pillar of the Asian Century.

The Chinese delegation led by Kong Quan, said they all felt at home on coming to Pakistan and the Chinese government and people as well as the parliament strongly supported Pakistan in its efforts to protect its independence and build a strong economy relying on the talented manpower.

Kong Quan said China would continue to support CPEC, including strengthen cooperation with the youth as well as strengthen Pakistan’s industrial and manufacturing base. He also urged the need for parliamentary diplomacy between the parliamentarians of Pakistan and China.

There was a very positive interactive discussion between the parliamentarians of both sides who represented the media, diplomacy and the business sectors. From the Pakistan side, active interventions were made by Leader of Opposition in the Senate Sherry Rehman, who urged a greater role for youth in CPEC and leveraging the relationship strategically, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, who spoke of women’s participation, Senator Mian Ateeq who urged the need for closer business interaction between the two countries’ business to business relations, plus the need for technology transfer, Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar who urged the need for youth of Balochistan to get dividends from CPEC and said that 99% of the people of Balochistan support CPEC, Senator Rehman Malik who talked of security and cooperation between Pakistan and China, and Senator Sirajul Haq who urged that the benefits of CPEC should reach the common man and also underlined the need for small and medium enterprises to benefit from CPEC.

At the end of the meeting, the Chinese delegation leader invited Senator Mushahid Hussain and the Foreign Affairs Committee to visit China on the invitation of CPPCC. Senator Mushahid presented souvenirs to the Chinese delegation.