“Pakistan is for enhanced rail, road and air connectivity in the region as it is the key to regional development,” President Zardari said whileaddressing the China-Eurasia Economic Development and Cooperation Forum soon after the opening ceremony of first China-Eurasia Expo here in the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from September 1 to 5.
The President who reached Urumqi on Tuesday to attend the mega event said the Chinese government by hosting the China-Eurasia Expo has built economic bridges between Europe and Asia, the East and the West. “This is a timely and laudable initiative,” he remarked.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Defence Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Dr Asim Hussain, Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ch. Abdul Majeed, Chairman Board of Investment Salim H Mandviwala, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khan and Spokesperson to the President attended the event.
Tracing the history of centuries-old Silk route that passed through this region and was a link between East and West, President Zardari said the China-Eurasia Expo’s venue carries great significance.
“The earliest exchanges between the East and the West took place through the historic Silk Road that passed through this region,” he said adding it was a conduit for the exchange of ideas and knowledge as well as goods and merchandise between Pakistan and China.
The President said development of the western parts of China including Xinjiang is truly remarkable and Pakistan views Xinjiang’s development and prosperity as its own.
He said China’s policy of developing Xinjiang offered tremendous opportunities for economic collaboration between our two regions, adding, Pakistan and China are already working towards an “integrated border management” to promote trade ties between our two countries.
He said Pakistan and China were time-tested friends and the two countries enjoy a high degree of mutual trust and confidence.
“We have a history of fruitful cooperation in a wide range of areas of mutual interest,” the President said and mentioned with pride and pleasure that this year they are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries.
China’s economic progress was a source of inspiration for many countries including Pakistan, he said and added that without China’s economic strength the world’s economy would have been in a deeper crisis in the post-recession era.
Talking about terrorism, the President said this menace has spread all over, with Pakistan hit hard. “We have suffered greatly on this count”, he remarked.
“The recent incidents of terrorism in Xinjiang dismayed us,” President Zardari said, adding, Pakistan would extend all possible cooperation to China in overcoming this menace.
President Zardari expressed his conviction that terrorism will not discourage the march towards development and prosperity.
He also expressed his confidence that the China-Eurasia Expo will be a milestone in promoting development in the region and beyond.
“I wish our Chinese friends and the participants of the Expo all success,” the President added.
Earlier President Zardari joined China’s Executive Vice President and other dignitaries at the impressive opening ceremony of the first China-Eurasia Expo at the newly constructed magnificent Expo Center building.
The President later visited the Pakistan Pavilion at the Expo and evinced keen interest in various traditional Pakistani products such as artificial jewelry, carpets displayed at the pavilion.