Pakistan, China pledge joint efforts for regional stability
By Makhdoom Babar

ISLAMABAD—Special Envoy of the Chinese Government and Senior Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on President Pervez Musharraf here on Thursday. Conveying warm felicitations and greetings from President Hu Jintao and the Chinese leadership to President Musharraf on his re-election, Wang Yi admired President’s leadership in pursuing policies which have served the best interests of Pakistan and promoted regional peace and stability and were helpful to global community.
Reaffirming strong support of the Chinese government and leaders for President Musharraf’s leadership and his policies, Wang Yi particularly mentioned Pakistan’s leading role and important contribution in the fight against terrorism and extremism and underscored the importance of continuing closer cooperation between the two countries to deal with this danger.
He said President’s leadership and policies ensured stability, remarkable economic growth and development of Pakistan. Referring to China’s own experience, he added that political stability was a prerequisite for economic progress. The Chinese Special Envoy said that Pakistan-China relations were unique, strategic in character and marked by the high level of mutual trust, all-weather friendship and multi-faceted cooperation.
Wang Yi said that China has always stood by Pakistan and will continue its support in the future. President Musharraf thanked the Chinese President and the Chinese leadership for their expression of support and solidarity. The President also informed the Special Envoy of the steps that have been taken leading to elections on January 8, 2008.
He expressed the confidence that the elections would ensure both political stability and continuity of policies especially economic growth in the country. He said that Pakistan cherishes its long-standing friendship with China and he was confident that it will continue to gain strength in future to serve the best interests of two countries and the region. The President accepted with thanks the invitation extended to him by President Hu Jintao to visit China.
Pakistan has firmly opposed the so-called referendum on U.N. membership by the Taiwan authorities, Pakistani Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday. Pakistan has all along maintained its principled position of one China and that Taiwan is an integral and inalienable part of the People’ s Republic of China, which is the sole government representing the whole of China including Taiwan, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said in a written interview with Xinhua.
“This is a consensus of the international community and is undeniably confirmed in the GA Resolution 2758,” Sadiq said, “Pakistan believes that Taiwan issue is an internal affair of the People’s Republic of China.” Sadiq said Pakistan had opposed attempts to bring about the question of Taiwan in affiliated bodies of the U.N. in the past.
“We will oppose any such attempts made in the future too,” said Sadiq. While explaining the current political situation in the country, the Prime Minister expressed hope of smooth transition of power to the elected government after the general elections. He specifically mentioned that the manifestos of all the political parties contesting the elections reflect that all believe in continuation of policies for the development and prosperity of Pakistan.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived here Tuesday for a three-day visit to Pakistan as special envoy of the Chinese government. The issue of Taiwan is one of the topic Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterparts covered at their meetings.