Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Pakistan is diligently pursuing war against terrorism and urged international community for lending more support in its efforts. "Pakistan has hugely paid in terms of casualties and economy. We are fighting the war, which will benefit the whole world," the Prime Minister told a Chinese media delegation at PM's House here.
The 19-member delegation headed by Wang Dongmei, Vice President of China Radio International comprised journalists from Shanghai Dragon Television, China Radio International and Tencent Web Portal. Prime Minister Gilani said the war on terror was not confined to one nation but was a global phenomenon, which needed to be dealt accordingly. "Instead of mere criticism, the world needs to show more co-operation towards Pakistan," he said. He appreciated the statement by Chinese leadership acknowledging Pakistan's contributions in the war besides pledging to support it in difficult times.
He also mentioned the role of Chinese media, which, he said, is positively and correctly portraying the situation in Pakistan contrary to the biased international media. "The positive messages both from the Chinese leadership and media are a sense of hope for the people in Pakistan," he said.
Gilani stressed for enhancing Sino-Pak relations through people-to-people contacts and cultural and parliamentary exchanges. He said China was like no other country in the world, which was loved by Pakistani nation deep from the heart. He mentioned the exchange of 100-member youth delegation between Pakistan and China on annual basis, which he said was playing a great role in inculcating values of friendship to the new generation. He termed economic co-operation with China top most priority besides collaboration in the fields of defence, culture, energy and construction of dams.
The PM held an hour-long interactive session with the delegates and answered their several questions. In response to a query on Attaabad's quick lake affecting transportation on Silk Route between Pakistan and China, he said the matter was discussed with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao who agreed to help out Pakistan on it. The PM said he also talked with Premier Wen about helping Pakistan in constructing a road linking Karachi motorway with Faisalabad. He said that like the Silk Route, this viable project could also become a symbol of Pak-China friendship. He called for more co-operation between the sister-cities of Karachi and Shanghai.
Earlier, Vice President CRI Dongmei apprised the Prime Minister about the delegation's visit to Pakistan's main cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Gilgit. Vice president CRI said it was their common observation that the situation in Pakistan as depicted by the international media reports, was not true. She said the visiting delegation had prepared some 200 news and television reports which would dissipate positive message about the real situation in Pakistan.