Pakistan rejoices in China’s success, says President
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf Friday said Pakistan rejoices in China’s achievements and “we regard their strength as our own strength”.
In his remarks to welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao before his address to the Pakistani nation at Jinnah Convention Centre, President Musharraf said it was a great honour to have him in Pakistan at a time when the two countries were celebrating 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The address of the Chinese President was telecast live on radio and television. President Musharraf praised China’s spectacular economic transformation and said it was a driving engine for development and growth in Asia.
Pakistan “rejoices” in achievements of China, the President said and sought closer economic cooperation with the Asian powerhouse for the mutual benefit of their two peoples. The President lauded China for its contribution to global peace and development.
He appreciated China’s assistance in social and economic sectors and said the Gwadar Port and the Karakoraum Highway were just the two great symbols of Pak-China cooperation. The two countries, he added, will continue to endeavour to further strengthen their cooperation for the mutual benefit. Referring to the signing of several agreements and MOUs, he said they would lead to increased economic and trade ties and boost investments in the two countries.
These agreements, he added, reflected the determination of the two countries to build close cooperation to fully utilize their collective potential for ensuring economic growth and progress and prosperity of their people. The President said that the signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will quadruple two-way trade between the two countries which currently stood close to 5 billion dollars. President Musharraf said he looked forward to China’s private sector to benefit from Pakistan’s vibrant and growing economy.
He described his two visits to China this year as very successful and productive. The President expressed the confidence that the visit to Pakistan by President Hu Jintao would open up new avenues for realizing enormous economic potential built on the vast resources of good-will that existed between the two countries for the peace, progress and prosperity of their people. He recalled the deep-rooted friendship between peoples of Pakistan and China and expressed the confidence that Pak-China relations would continue to grow from strength to strength in years to come.
“Relations between Pakistan and China will remain evergreen,” as the ties transcends beyond governments and leaders to the people, who have developed love, affection and close association. “Therefore irrespective of the governments, irrespective of leaders, the relations between Pakistan and China will remain evergreen,” the President added.