Bilawal Bhutto

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed the world political party summit in connection with the celebrations on the occasion of 100 years of founding of Chinese Communist Party. 

Senator Sherry Rehman and Secretary Information Pakistan People’s Party Faisal Karim Kundi were also present on the occasion.

Chairman Bilawal said that the founding Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Chairman Mao Tse Tung laid the foundation of Pakistan-China friendship. The Pakistani section of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor was initiated during the Pakistan Peoples Party government under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari. Chairman Bilawal congratulated the Chinese nation on the occasion.

“It is indeed a great honor to speak at the World Political Parties Summit, I want to particularly thank the international department of the CPC Central for organizing this virtual summit and giving my party the Pakistan People’s Party an opportunity to speak at this level of representation. The PPP extends its warmest wishes and congratulations to the people of China, His Excellency President Xi and the CPC for the party’s historic 100 year anniversary,” he said.

 He added: “Today the CPC has become the world’s biggest political party with more than 90 million members and leads the country with the largest population.  Under your able leadership and consistent policy, China has made great strides against poverty and has simultaneously become one of the largest economies on Earth. Despite the Covid crisis which slowed the economic wheel globally, disrupted health care systems across the globe, China has today achieved unprecedented economic growth, leaving lessons, learning lessons for the rest of us. I was so pleased to learn that the Peoples Republic of China has lifted more than a 100 million people especially from rural areas out of poverty since 2012. With the CPC’s people-friendly economic policies, countrywide poverty eradication campaign, China’s success in combating poverty proves that true economic growth only counts if it benefits the poorest in society.” 

He said today, “as we see China’s economic power through the revolutionary One Belt One Road initiative, it is a matter of both pride and responsibility that makes me say that the Pakistan Peoples Party is fully committed to realizing the potential of this great dream. The China-Pakistan component, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor rests on groundwork and foundation laid by the Pakistan Peoples Party government in Pakistan and the Chinese Communist Party’s in China.”

Under Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese leadership, Pakistan and China laid the foundation for China Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar port. Linking are two countries in deeper and more meaningful ways than ever before.

“We are proud of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and see it as a culmination of a relationship between two great countries, a relationship that began with Chairman Mao and Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, sustained by every coming generation, fostered by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her time. I have the honor of seeing these joint efforts turn into the reality of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, link our people and countries together for times to come,” he said.

Whether it be investments abroad or humanitarian assistance during the pandemic, a global climate responsibility or international development that benefits all via its soft power, China under President Xi has entered a new phase of global leadership.

Let me take this opportunity to reiterate that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor goes beyond partisan politics for us and that we are all united around one fundamental truth in a world defined by unexpected conflicts and challenges, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor  is the economic stabilizer that can steer Pakistan into the 21st century, he added.

China under the CPC has also become a global leader in the Covid vaccination distribution effort, and on behalf of Pakistan and my country, I would like to thank the CPC for donating vaccines to my country especially during these testing times when Pakistan faced another Covid wave. This only reinforces the reality that China has always sided with Pakistan in difficult times. I would like to thank the international department of CPC Central for making this summit possible and the Chinese government for its unfaltering cooperation, support and all-weather friendship to the people of Pakistan and my party, the Pakistan People’s Party.

“The future really does lie in peace and cooperation. As of today, it is China leading the way for global cooperation instead of global conflict. This is the only way for my generation to be part of a future with perpetual peace and break with the past habits of perpetual conflict.”