Foundation of Pak-China Friendship Centre laid

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao along with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz laid foundation stone of Pak-China friendship Centre in the federal capital on Wednesday. The Chinese-funded Friendship Centre is being built at an area of 1.2 acres of land in Sector I-8 Markaz, which would be designed and constructed by China as a gift to people of Pakistan. The Chinese premier, in his brief remarks, said that Pakistan-China friendship was deep rooted and in the hearts of peoples of the two countries.
"This Centre will remind us our 2000 years-old friendly relations further consolidated during the last 56 years", he said.
Wen Jiabao said the peoples of two countries consider each other as true friends, brothers and sisters.
He said the strengthening of relations through intellectual activity would serve as a milestone in deepening people-to-people contacts.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Education Minister Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf Qazi (Retd), Minister of State for Interior Dr Shahzad Wasim and members of the Chinese delegation also attended the ceremony.
The Government of Pakistan has provided land for the Centre, while the Chinese government would construct, equip and provide human resources for it. The details of design, expenditure and timeframe for completion of the Centre is yet to be finalised.
Meanwhile, Wen Jiabao and Shaukat Aziz while planting a sapling at Shakar Parian on Wednesday underlined the role of the youth of two countries in strengthening future bilateral relations and co-operation.
"The strengthening of Pak-China relations and friendship, which is deep-rooted, and time-tested lies on the shoulders of the young people of two countries," the Chinese premier said.
Wen Jiabao recalled that the plantation of a tree by then-Chinese premier Chou-en Lai 40 years back at this place symbolised historic friendship between the two countries.
It is worth mentioning here that the visiting high-level Chinese delegation on Saturday last has donated $400,000 to Pakistan Human Development Fund through Guangcai programme to be used for building Chinese Learning Centre in Islamabad.