‘Pak-China ties based on mutual trust’
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Acting Chairman Senate Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali said here Friday that Pakistan and China enjoy excellent relations based on mutual trust that have withstood the test of the times and the two countries hold similar views on a number of issues.
Mr. Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali made these observations while talking to a 6 Member delegation comprising Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National Peoples’ Congress of the People’s Republic of China that called on the Acting Chairman in the Parliament House here this afternoon.
Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali said that our relationship with China was unique in many ways as the people of various countries cherish such ties. Mr. Jamali said that the people of the Pakistan value this friendship as China always helped Pakistan in an hour of crises.
The Acting Chairman appreciated the rapid development taking place in China in various fields and recounted the Chinese assistance rendered to Pakistan for providing technical assistance and for improving its industrial base.
The Acting Chairman Senate, Mr. Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali was, however, of the view that people to people contact and greater interaction between the businessmen, traders, Parliamentarians and experts in scientific and technological fields would give a boost to these ties.
He underlined the need for increased trade between the two countries.
Senator Nisar A. Memon, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence & Defence Production, who was also present in the meeting, expressed satisfaction over the present state of Pakistan China relations andobserved that this relationship was as high as mountains and as deep as Oceans.
He said this relationship is central to our Foreign Policy. He thanked the Chinese government for assisting Pakistan in building the Defence corridor i.e. Korakorum Highway.
He informed the delegation that a Parliamentary delegation would soon visit China to explore the possibilities of further strengthening the ties between the two countries. He said that Pakistan was a peace loving country and that Pakistan, like China, was keen to develop its economic base.
The Leader of Ethnic Affairs Committee of National Peoples Congress (NPC) of China, Mr. Kui Fulin informed the Acting Chairman that the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National Peoples Congress was one of the most important Committees of NPC.
He said that as Pakistan China relationship was based on mutual trust, it developed in to comprehensive and strategic relationship during the last five decades.
He called for greater interaction between the Parliamentarians of the two countries and remarked that visits of Parliamentary delegations play a significant role in improving, developing and consolidating relations between the two countries.
He expressed the hope that the proposed visit of Chinese President to Pakistan would help further cement and strengthen the cordial ties between the two countries.
Later, the Acting Senate Chairman hosted a lunch in honour of the Chinese delegation which was attended, besides the Leader of the House in the Senate Mr. Wasim Sajjad and Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Resources, Mr. Naseer Mengal by the Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob. The Chairmen of various Senate Standing Committees, Parliamentarians and senior government functionaries were also present.