A relationship beyond realm of diplomacy

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif writes a signed article applauding Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, April 20, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

The just concluded visit to Pakistan by President of Peoples Republic of China His Excellency Xi Jinping has surely been instrumental to exponential expansion in the bilateral relations between the two countries and elevated them to a new level of abiding strategic cooperation that holds the promise of not only serving the geo-political, economic and security interests of both of them but also the South Asian region as well as Central Asia.

We in Pakistan feel proud of aligning ourselves with the new Chinese vision for regional connectivity and shared economic prosperity purported to be realized through revival of the old silk route and the building of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). These are epoch making initiatives dictated by the phenomenal economic progress of China and changing regional and global realities fraught with throwing open infinite opportunities to exploit the hitherto untapped resources for shared economic gains. The completion of the projects under the umbrella of CPEC will have a revolutionary impact on the economic profile of Pakistan and go a long way in changing the lives of people belonging to all the four provinces, as rightly noted and pointed out by His Excellency Xi Jinping during his visit to Pakistan. The CPEC will turn Pakistan into an economic hub for the region with all the accompanying benefits on perennial basis. China would also undoubtedly benefit from this undertaking in many ways and be in a much better position to expand its commercial interests on the global level by securing shortest possible access route to the Arabian Sea as well as to import oil for its industrial machine at a much lesser cost and time. It would indeed be a win-win situation for both China and Pakistan and the countries of the region. Pakistan is a naturally endowed country. Its geo-strategic location connecting three main sub-regions of Asia provides it with a unique advantage. We feel proud that this unique factor would help our friend like China in furthering its economic and strategic objectives.

Pakistan currently is engaged in a decisive war against terrorism that poses great threat to peace, security and tranquility in the region affecting almost all the regional countries in varying degrees. Pakistan being a frontline state in the war against terrorism and having suffered colossal economic losses in this battle and having endured its negative impact on the security situation in the country, understands and appreciates Chinese concerns about the security challenges in its Sinkiang province as a consequence of the terrorist activities of ETIM. We stand by China in combating the ETIM threat. The security interests of Pakistan and China are interconnected and we appreciate the endorsement and support expressed by the Chinese President in regards to our efforts in tackling terrorism and the resolve to work together to confront this common challenge both at the bilateral level and through cooperative efforts of the countries of the region.

Pakistan firmly believes in peace for development and my government has been striving hard to pursue this objective and I am glad that this initiative has tremendously helped in improving relations with Afghanistan and an ambience of cooperative relations based on mutual trust has been evolved, especially in regards to combating terrorism. Pakistan supports the process of Afghan-led and Afghan owned process of reconciliation in Afghanistan and believes that peace in Afghanistan is a key to surmounting security challenges of the region as well as unleashing the economic potential for shared economic prosperity. We are of the firm view that the Chinese interest and participation in rebuilding infrastructure in Afghanistan and support for reconciliation process in that country would greatly enhance the chances of success in our common goals of peace and development.