All-weather friendship: Pak-China united through thick and thin: Mamnoon

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book launched

ISLAMABAD:

President Mamnoon Hussain while lauding Pak-China friendship has said that both the countries were “iron brothers” which stood shoulder to shoulder through thick and thick.

The president was the chief guest at the launching ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book, “The Governance of China”, held at Pak-China Friendship Centre on Friday.

“The book couldn’t be timelier,” said Hussain, adding, “It gives a comprehensive overview of Chinese philosophy”.

Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chen Fengxiang, China State Council Director General Wang Lieming, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, Senator Mushahid Hussain and senior dignitaries from both countries attended the event, organised by the Pakistan-China Institute in collaboration with the Chinese embassy.

President Hussain began his speech by referring to the Peshawar massacre, saying that his thoughts were with the bereaved families. He added that “such cowardly acts could not weaken our resolve. Instead, we have become more united to root out terrorism.”

The president said Pakistan was proud of its relations with China and the Pak-China Economic Corridor will be a game changer for the whole region.

“The new Chinese leadership has coined the term ‘iron brothers’ for both the countries,” said the president, adding, “We are truly iron brothers” as both the nations stood shoulder-to-shoulder over the years.

Fengxiang, while expressing deep condolences from the CPC to the country and the bereaved families, said, “Terrorism is a common enemy and China will keep supporting Pakistan in rooting it out.”

“In the face of rapid development in China, an important question was how to handle foreign policy, and it was decided to stick to the peaceful foreign policy and relationship with other countries,” Fengxiang said.

“We welcome a peaceful rise of China,” Senator Mushahid Hussain, adding that the 21st century will be the ‘Asian century’ and decisions will be taken in Islamabad and Beijing instead of Washington.

Hussain said that the book has given credence to the notion that “China dreams of building a better tomorrow,” adding that the book brings to light President Jinping’s thoughts, ideas and assessments in response to major theoretical and practical issues on the development of the party and the country in the contemporary era.

He said that Pakistan could learn a lot from the Chinese model of governance, which has delivered stability and prosperity to China, taking 500 million people out of poverty within a decade.

While giving an overview of the book, Lieming said that it opened a window for the rest of the world to understand contemporary China and the direction the leadership is steering it in.

“The book provides a series of ideas and new ways of turning ideas into reality,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador Weidong said that the book reveals the philosophy and strategies of the Chinese government and will enable readers to better understand China. Weidong said that the Pak-China relationship was time-tested and an example for other countries to emulate, adding that both countries should now push forward the Economic Corridor Project. He also expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of Peshawar and condemned the attack. “We share your sorrow and pain,” he said.

The book has been divided into 18 sections and contains 79 speeches, informal talks and addresses, answers to questions from media personnel, and approvals and congratulatory letters by and from the president from November 15, 2012 to June 13, 2014.

The book also offers notes that would enable readers to understand China’s social institutions, history and culture.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2014.