Pakistan

Pakistan high on Chinese diplomatic agenda: Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping departs from Pakistan escorted by eight JF-17 Thunders

Web Desk April 21, 2015

PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping departed from Pakistan on Tuesday after addressing the joint session of Parliament .

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was present at the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi to bid farewell to President Xi.

Express News screengrab of JF-17 Thunders escorting Chinese president's plane

Pakistan high on China's diplomatic agenda

“Pakistan is high on China’s diplomatic agenda,” the Chinese president said.

Beginning his address by thanking the people of Pakistan for their warm invitation, he extended good wishes to the people of the country.

Terming the friendship between Pakistan and China a ‘truly unique’ one, the president said, “Our friendship is deeper than oceans.”

Read: Chinese President Xi arrives in capital to rousing welcome

“I am thankful to Pakistan for standing by China when it stood isolated,” he added.

The Chinese president said the people of China were thankful to Pakistan for all the help and support provided when his country suffered from natural disasters.

Express News screengrab of Chinese president addressing joint session of Parliament

Further, Xi advised leaders of both countries should meet more often to strengthen relations which in turn would ensure an unbreakable bond.

Commenting on the economic corridor, the president said “to help Pakistan, is to help ourselves.”

Read: Baloch ire prompts security fears for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Pakistan and China on Monday signed more than 50 agreements worth $28 billion, mostly covering commercial loans to Pakistani power generation companies, but also including financing agreements for six infrastructure projects that will set in motion work on the eastern trade corridor connecting western China with Gwadar that Beijing wants to see operational before the end of next year.

Read: Trade corridor tops Chinese investment bonanza

He upheld the two strategic partners would continue to be further enriched and strengthened.

“Our countries will always move forward together, come rain or shine,” Xi said, as he described the all-weather friendship between the two countries.

“Coming to Pakistan isn’t like coming to a foreign country, it is in fact like coming to my brother’s home,” the president said.

The president lauded Pakistan’s efforts for being at “the front line of the war against terrorism.”

Read: China’s security as important as Pakistan’s, Nawaz tells Chinese president

“The country has made great progress in its efforts for eradicating terrorism,” Xi added.

Express News screengrab of Chinese delegation

Xi asserted China would support Pakistan and provide any assistance required for the ongoing efforts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and Federally Administered Tribal Area.

The head of state went on to laud the efforts of Pakistan for being one of the first countries to recognise new China, and also the first Islamic state to enter diplomatic relations with China.

Read: Guest speaker: Xi Jinping to address parliament on Tuesday

He further encouraged contact between Chinese and Pakistani children and said China would launch youth exchange programmes in order to promote cultural ties.

President Xi lauded Pakistan’s constructive role in Afghanistan and said they would always support Pakistan in their hour of need.

“China will continue to enhance friendship and cooperation with all other countries, peaceful development is in China’s interest and also in the interest of Asia and the world,” he said.

Concluding his address to Parliament, Xi said “only through joint efforts can we create a bright future for China and Pakistan.”

Read: Pakistan's fight against terror a 'game changer': President Xi

Addressing the joint session, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif thanked the president for his inspiring address and said the two brother countries should continue to strengthen the already robust relationship between the two.

"This Parliament, the government and the people of Pakistan are thankful to you and your people for assisting us in our energy crisis," Nawaz said.

The premier lauded the efforts of China for standing by Pakistan in its efforts to overcome challenges. "We need to intensify our efforts to overcome these challenges," he added.

Express News screengrab of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressing joint session of Parliament

Concluding his address, PM Nawaz termed the two nations as 'iron brothers' and marked the president's visit a historic moment.

"We thank you and your delegation for the efforts you have made for Pakistan," the premier noted and ended his note with a brief excerpt from Allama Iqbal's poetry.

Parliamentarians greet Chinese president

National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq initiated Tuesday's address and highlighted the importance of the Chinese president's visit to Pakistan.

"This is the first address by a foreign dignitary in our Parliament," he said.

Read: Opposition unites to greet Chinese president

Express News screengrab of NA speaker

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah in a brief note to the Chinese president said "the ties between the two countries would continue to grow from pillar to pillar."

Express News screengrab of Khursheed Shah

Express News screengrab

Chinese president at Parliament

Earlier during the day, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting with the parliamentary delegation at the parliament house led by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

Talking to the delegation, the Chinese President emphasized the need for enhanced parliamentary level exchanges between the two countries for further building and consolidating the bilateral relationship.

Express News screengrab

Xi is the first Chinese head of state to visit Islamabad since 2006. He was originally scheduled to travel to Pakistan in September last year but cancelled his trip due to political unrest in the country.

Express News screengrab of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz and the first lady of China

After a brief meet and greet with party leaders and officials in Parliament, President Xi Jinping, accompanied by PM Nawaz departed from Parliament in a special entourage.

Express News screengrab

Express News screengrab of Chinese president and PM Nawaz

President Jinping was also presented with a bouquet of flowers.

Express News screengrab

Chinese president conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan

The Chinese president was conferred the country’s highest civil award, the ‘Nishan-e-Pakistan’ at a special investiture ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and Army chief General Raheel Sharif were among those present at the ceremony.

Express News screengrab of the ceremony

Express News screengrab of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz and the first lady of China at the ceremony

COMMENTS (16)

Javaid Bashir | 9 years ago | Reply The change has to come from within , not outside. foreign aid in any form and shape must be shunned. However the foreign investment must be given protection. we must provide corruption free environment in the country. China should monitor all the projects being commissioned in Pakistan by its help and assistance. No doubt the corrupt ad looters will pounce upon this opportunity as well. they have already sharpened their teeth to take a piece of the pie. We must evolve a foolproof system to end this corruption. Where there is will there is a way. Let us not forget that we can not progress unless we break the circle of Corruption.

Rizwan | 9 years ago | Reply CPEC is the nail in the coffin of any Indian ambitions to invade Pakistan's Kashmir. China would never allow a vital link like CPEC to be snapped, so India now would have to fight not only the Pakistani army, but also the Chinese one. Conversely, it makes Pakistan less likely to attack Indian occupied Kashmir, because the CPEC would be disrupted in any war. The CPEC will probably be even more effective than nuclear weapons at preventing another war breaking out over Kashmir. Not only should it be a corridor that brings peace, but it should be connected to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran to bring prosperity to the whole region. Indian trucks delivering goods to Tehran, and Pakistani trucks in Dhaka or Yangon is my dream.

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kanishka | 9 years ago | Reply what is common between communist (truely non-believer people) and Islamic republic of Pakistan, the so-called fort of Islam? "Nothing except common hatred towards India and the design of nuclear bomb". Could any one enlighten the ignorants like me about the number of tourists visiting each other every year? The figure of $46.00 billion investment claim has come down to $28.00 billions in just two days visit. Let us see how many of these MOU get converted into completed projects in Pakistan. Chinese would use their own labor (unskilled and skilled both), funds and expertise to take up the projects which have better export-import potential to meet their huge demands for oil and raw materials from middle east and Pakistan such as gold, rare-earth and copper ores from places like Riko-Diq and other untapped region (Balochistan) of Pakistan. China is not investing in installing any steel-mills in Pakistan which are back bone of development; it will rather transport iron ore in bulk using its own rail or road freight at very low cost and will sell the finished goods back to Pakistan costing arm and leg. Who in Pakistan can or will ever question big brother China?

The Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Great steps by PML N and Nawaz Sharif. Imran Khan tried so hard to scuttle this and he failed. Pakistan Zindabad

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply @Adil Zulfiqar: Feels like a viceroy visiting his colony and for sure makes Indians laugh, not scared that it took your best friend more than a year to visit you.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Saima: for these reasons we never support this type of deals, they likely to fetch votes and deceive peoples, we can not jeopardize our children s future interests by electing these thugs again and again, we will never endorse this deals because this will never trickle down in larger interest of nation rather will kick start new money making process, we are waiting operation clean up, wounds are being wrapped without treatment of cancerous elements

Christian Times | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan Christian Community appreciate the relations of both countries, it is best step for country's integrity.

Sardar KHAN | 9 years ago | Reply @Waseem:a True your so called great leader Nehru was happy to call india china bahi bahi.But was the first one to attack china in 1962.When Chinese hit back to stop his misadventure,he got scared and ran to USA for help to ask Pakistan not to join china and attack india.Please,read the history of conflicts and don't fallow your governments lies.Remember,china have never attacked any country first.But it is a fact,your country have always attacked other countries like,sri lanka/east Pakistan.So don't lecture us to whom we choose as our friends.

UFO | 9 years ago | Reply @Waseem: You are correct! That is the difference - we make friends for life. India has partners and changes them overnight!

Kokab | 9 years ago | Reply China will give Billions of dollars to Pakistan as always and the corruption masters, Ignorants and looters sitting in Pakistani parliament and assemblies will use this money to make palaces and Mansions for their families and fill their pockets. Unfortunately, the ordinary Pakistani will see no change. The systematic historical rigging during the 2013 General elections, was NOT done to serve the Country and to bring it forward. We first need a radical cleanup of our corrupt System, otherwise chinese preseidents will come and go like always but nothing will Change .

z | 9 years ago | Reply Please don't forget that the Chinese president was due to be here in August 2014. Now no matter who did what. We are happy that PM Nawaz Sharif is committed to the cause and will deliver what he promised within his tenure. Long live Pak-China Friendship, PMLN zindabad, Pakistan Paindabad.

Tabassum Khalil | 9 years ago | Reply Good work done by the federal government of Pakistan.

Saima | 9 years ago | Reply Well done Nawaz Sharif.

Waseem | 9 years ago | Reply @Adil Zulfiqar - India doesn't believe in friendship to one particular country, you might want to read India's history of Non-Alignment. So yeah, neither is USA India's friend not is Israel or Russia or China.... India only has partners.

Adil Zulfiqar | 9 years ago | Reply Thanks to China ! in coming years Pakistan is making a come back in the game. be scared India be very scared ! you chose the wrong friend (Washington)

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