Pakistani contingent marches in Tiannmen Square. PHOTO: NNI
President Mamnoon Hussain along with other world leaders on Thursday attended China’s grand military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of its victory in the Second World War.
Pakistan was among the 17 foreign countries that contributed their troops for the parade that marched alongside the troops of China’s People’s Liberation Army.
The 75-member Pakistani contingent carried the green national flag besides the flags with insignias of Pakistan Army, Navy, Air Force and tri-services as it marched down the parade venue.
Meanwhile, the President said that Pakistan and China have reached a consensus on various infrastructure and energy projects and are determined for their effective implementation as well as their timely completion.
“Forging greater regional connectivity through infrastructure development, energy and transnational trade are the key to prosperity which will bring about economic progress not just to Pakistan and China but to the entire region,” he expressed these views in a meeting with China’s Executive Vice Premier and Member of Standing Committee of Political Bureau of Communist Party Zhang Gaoli at the Diaoyutai State Guest House.
The president stressed the need to promote people-to-people contacts between Islamabad and Beijing through comprehensive bilateral exchanges in all fields as the two countries celebrate 2015 as ‘Year of Friendly Exchanges’.
President Mamnoon appreciated his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping’s vision of ‘One Belt, One Road’ that includes the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ and ‘Maritime Silk Route’ and welcomed the establishment of the Silk Road Fund. He also felicitated China for establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
The executive vice premier said that in this world full of severe challenges, China is ready to work with Pakistan and other countries to jointly advance peace.
“Pakistan is China’s all-weather friend and a cooperative partner as the two countries had a history of sincere friendship and expressed satisfaction that exemplary progress had been made in Sino-Pak relationship, he added.
Zhang Gaoli said that Beijing supports counter-terrorism operation being conducted by the government in Islamabad for the elimination of terrorists and expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by Pakistan for the protection and safety of Chinese personnel working in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2015.
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