Pak-China play vital role in shaping destiny of Asia: Sanjrani

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani Saturday said that Pakistan and China could play a vital role in shaping the destiny of Asia and common objectives of regional development.

He stated this during a meeting with 15-member Chinese parliamentary delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National Peoples Congress (NPC) Zhang Chunxian here at Parliament House, said a press release issued here.

Sadiq Sanjrani said that Pakistan values its cordial and friendly relations with China and wants to further expand ties by opening up new vistas of cooperation.

He greeted the Chinese side for organizing a successful first ever International Import-Export Expo and hoped that it would further pave the way for enhancing trade and economic links.

The chairman said the Expo was organized at a time when the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was visiting China and participated in the event to explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation besides holding high level meetings.

He said that Pakistan takes pride in its ties with China. “Relations between the two countries are time tested and have strengthened with the passage of time” Sanjrani said.

Sadiq Sanjrani also appreciated Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of shared prosperity and specially for taking steps for social development as millions of people had been lifted out of poverty by improving their standard of life in China.

He said that agenda of domestic reforms of current government including improving governance, poverty alleviation and anti-corruption resonates closely with President Xi Jinping’s agenda of national development.

The Chairman said that both sides can learn from each other’s experience and apprized the delegation of the recently held Asian Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee on Political Affairs in Gwadar.

He said that Gwadar has the potential to push forward the regional development agenda as envisaged by China and Pakistan.

Sadiq Sanjrani thanked the Chinese government and people for the 'green Gwadar project' under which one million trees would be planted in Gwadar.

He said that 100 delegates from 23 Asian countries had participated in the meeting in future’s port city of Gwadar which was a testimony to the fact that Asian countries acknowledge the role of Gwadar in the overall socio-economic development of the region.

Leader of the Chinese delegation welcomed the remarks of the Chairman Senate and said that trade was highly important for both the countries and economic development was given high importance.

He said that Gwadar would further accelerate the growth and development. He also underscored the need for institutional cooperation at parliamentary other levels.

He said that high investment in the industrial sectors in Gwadar would not only bring prosperity to Gwadar but also to Balochistan.

Chinese side also assured that students from Balochistan would be given technical skills to enable them to benefit from the local employment opportunities.

Senators Kauda Babar, Dilawar Khan, Ahmed Khan, Nighat Mirza and Special Secretary Senate Muhammad Anwar were also present during the meeting.