China is going to double its trade volume with Pakistan and increase financial assistance. This was hinted at by the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Zhang Chun Xiang while speaking at a seminar and exhibition on "600th anniversary of Zheng He's Maritime expeditions" organised by Pakistan Institute of maritime Affairs (PIMA) here on Saturday.
The Gwadar Port is not only important for Pakistan but for China as well. There was some delay in the inauguration of the port but China would also be interested in the second phase, the diplomat added.
The agreement between China and Pakistan over manufacturing of four Naval frigates has been finalised, but these projects would take sometime to materialise, Xiang said, adding that China always wanted to expedite such projects.
Xiang said, "The friendship of China and Pakistan is evergreen and long lasting and we will further strengthened the relations."
He paid rich tributes to Zheng He, who led a massive fleet to embark on a heroic western voyage in the third year of the reign of the Ming Emperor Yongle (1405).
The Chinese Ambassador said Zheng He was the envoy of peace and his voyages were for the progress of civilisation.
Zheng He's seven western voyages were made during the course of 28 years. With his fleet he visited and sowed the seed of friendship in more than 30 Asian and African countries and regions. His great contributions and triumphs won him widespread respect and extolment from the people around the world.
Zheng He's maritime expeditions were a significant step to change the state of isolation in the world, and to transfer the focus of people's attention from overland to maritime transport.
Earlier, PIMA Board Chairman Vice Admiral Iqbal F. Quadir (Retd) said that Zheng He expeditions were in fact a manifestation of the 3rd Ming Emperor Yong Le's ambition and vision.
He said that the circumstances prevalent at that time too favoured a shift towards a greater national interest in the affairs of the sea.
Admiral Iqbal said China's ability to act decisively consequent to the high-level of maritime technical knowledge, resources and wealth, acquired indigenously, was the result of centuries-old interaction and trading by the Sungs and Yuans with the Arabs, the Indians and peoples of Spice Islands.
The closure of Silk Road by the Mongols after their defeat meant that China's lucrative trade with Europe had to be carried on by sea, increasing the volume of maritime trade, he added.
Zheng He carried out six missions which are well documented and their success could be judged from the fact that no less than 28 heads of state and about forty ambassadors attended the Beijing's inauguration ceremony in 1421. The volume of trade with the region increased manifold and on every voyage hundreds of foreign trading ships joined the Chinese armada for security from sea pirates and avaricious coastal rulers.
A large number of people attended the seminar and showed keen interest in the exhibition.
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