ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said that Pakistan-China friendship groups have been established in the Senate and the National Assembly (NA) with the aim of strengthening the ties at the public level.
“We want close political and inter-parliamentary relations between Pakistan and China. There is a dire need to learn from experiences. So we can bring our people closer by sharing expertise,” he said during a meeting with a delegation of Chinese investors and businessmen, which met him here at the Parliament House
Gilani said that this meeting will further deepen the ideal commercial, economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries, as seeking closer political and inter-parliamentary relations between Pakistan and China will bring the peoples closer.
In the meeting, Senate Standing Committee on Finance Chairman Center Saleem Mandviwalla and Senate Standing Committee on Commerce Chairperson Senator Anusha Rehman, besides Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan were present.
Expressing his views to the Chinese delegation, Gilani said that China and Pakistan have an exemplary history of friendship. He noted the journey of friendship began in 1951 when both countries established diplomatic relations. In 1949, Pakistan was the first to recognize China and Pakistan is one of the first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China and the first Islamic country to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC.
He said that the people of Pakistan consider China-Pakistan friendship as higher than a mountain, deeper than the sea and sweeter than honey.
Gilani said that the exchange of high-level delegations will further strengthen the friendship, noting China is Pakistan’s largest trade partner.
There was a detailed discussion with the leadership of China regarding the strengthening of bilateral cooperation. The meeting noted bilateral cooperation will expand further in agricultural modernization, industrial development, mining and mineral resource exploration, science and information technology, educational and cultural partnership. It was emphasized both sides not only want deeper economic linkages but also cultural cooperation.
The Chinese delegation described the visit to Pakistan as very successful.
The delegation expressed its preferences regarding investment in Pakistan and said that various Chinese companies are willing to invest in Pakistan.