Friends from Pakistan and China recalled the episodes since the establishment of diplomatic relations

Gwadar Pro

Islamabad: To mark the 70th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, a webinar, themed Pakistan-China at 70: Past Reflections-Building a Community for a Shred Future in the New Era, was held online by All Pakistan-China Friendship Association (APCFA) yesterday (July 14th).

On this occasion, the panels recalled the episodes since the establishment of diplomatic ties and expressed their best wishes for the friendship between the two countries.

“The year 2021 is an auspicious one, and we’re enthusiastic to commemorate the journey of friendship this year. Today the two countries can be proud of the relationship – close allies and partners with vibrant bilateral ties,” Farwa Zafar, General Secretary of APCFA, said in her welcome speech, “people-to-people friendship is the core of Pak-China relationship so as they can connect their neighbourly friendship closer as a family.”

Zhang Heqing, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Pakistan, agreed with the importance of people-to-people friendship. He said: “The two countries have established 16 pairs of sister provinces and cities and conducted practical exchanges and cooperation in various fields. People-to-people exchanges have become an important part of China-Pakistan relations.”

He also believed that the past 70 years have proved that China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation are not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also conducive to regional and global peace, stability and development. “Up till now, CPEC has brought $25.4 billion of investment to Pakistan, with 46 projects completed or under construction, helping Pakistan add 5.2 million kilowatts of electricity, 880,000 meters of power transmission lines and 510 kilometers of highways. China would like to take the 70th anniversary as an opportunity to work with Pakistan to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen all-round cooperation and elevate the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.”

Lin Yi, Vice President of Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), agreed with Zhang and added: “Also, 7 Pakistan study centers, 11 Urdu language departments in various Chinese universities, and 4 Confucius Institutes in Pakistan are functioning which are promoting cultural understanding between the two countries. The two countries should intensify the people-to-people friendly bonds to enhance the connectivity of both countries.”

Delivering the message of the Pakistani Ambassador Moin-ul-Haque, Bilal Akram Shah, Counselor of Pakistani Embassy to China, said that Pakistan and China enjoy an exemplary relationship which has stood the test of times. “As the flagship project of BRI, CPEC has become a high-quality demonstration project, which has accelerated economic integration and regional connectivity,” he stated.

Muhammad Ikhlaque Usmani, President of APCFA, said: “Pakistan-China relations have been built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and understanding, and are the common wealth of our two people. CPEC is the game-changer which has been a catalyst in elevating Pakistan-China relationship to enter into a new era for building a community with a shared future for the common good of mankind.”

Including Naghmana Hashmi, former Pakistani ambassador to China, Zhang Qian, Executive vice president of Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC), and Fazal-ur- Rahman, Director of Pakistan Institute of China Studies, nearly a hundred people from China, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka and Nepal gathered on the screen to review the past 70-year’s China-Pakistan friendship.