Speech of Amb.Jiang Zaidong on the seminar of GGI and CPEC
H.E. Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives,
H.E. Mr. Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting,
H.E. Mr. Sun Chengbin, President of Xinhua News Agency Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau,
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is my great pleasure to attend the seminar on Global Governance Initiative and the Development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Xinhua News Agency and Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad for the meticulous arrangements for this event. Taking this opportunity, I would also like to pay high tribute to friends from all walks of life in both countries who have long cared for and supported the growth of China-Pakistan relations. Against the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan, I would like to share the following proposals on carrying forward the time-honored China-Pakistan friendship and deepening bilateral strategic cooperation:
First, build on past achievements and write a new chapter in our ironclad friendship. Over the past 75 years since China and Pakistan established diplomatic relations, high-level strategic guidance has remained the anchor of our bilateral relations. On May 21, President Xi Jinping and President Asif Ali Zardari exchanged congratulatory messages on the anniversary of diplomatic ties, noting that the two countries have maintained high-level political mutual trust, practical cooperation, security cooperation and international coordination, setting an exemplary model for state-to-state relations. On May 25, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He spoke highly of the unbreakable traditional friendship China and Pakistan have forged since the establishment of diplomatic relations 75 years ago, stressing that China has always prioritized the development of China-Pakistan relations in its neighborhood diplomacy. President Xi said he felt gratified to see that the cause of China-Pakistan friendship has successors, and called for advancing the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future for a new era. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif fully agreed with these remarks, affirming that our ironclad friendship grows stronger with time and that Pakistan will always be a good friend and partner of China. The important consensus reached by our leaders provides fundamental guidance and a roadmap for advancing the all-weather strategic cooperation. We stand ready to work with Pakistan to fully implement the consensus, carry forward our traditional friendship and deepen practical cooperation. Taking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a new starting point, we stand ready to work with Pakistan to elevate our relations to new heights and deliver greater benefits to our two peoples.
Second, forge ahead with resolve and break new ground in the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. During his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Xi Jinping called on both sides to solidly advance the action plan for building a China-Pakistan community with a shared future, coordinate the construction of major landmark projects and “small but beautiful” livelihood initiatives, and deepen all-round cooperation in agriculture, industry, artificial intelligence, talent cultivation and other fields. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded positively, stating that Pakistan stands ready to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, promote the construction of the CPEC. As a pioneering project under the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has brought Pakistan over 25.9 billion US dollars in direct investment, created more than 260,000 jobs, added over 8,000 megawatts of power generation capacity, built 510 kilometers of expressways and 886 kilometers of core national power transmission grids. It has injected strong impetus into Pakistan’s economic and social development, set an important example for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and become a vivid embodiment of the China-Pakistan community with a shared future. Moving forward, we will work with Pakistan to focus on three key areas — agriculture, industry and mining — and upgrade CPEC into its 2.0 version to usher in coordinated development across all areas of cooperation. In this process, we will continue to push forward major landmark projects such as the realignment of the Karakoram Highway Phase II, and actively implement “small yet beautiful” livelihood programs including the “Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand Initiative” in Balochistan. The initiative aims to build 100 water facilities, renovate 1,000 classrooms and distribute 100,000 student aid kits, ensuring that people across Pakistan share the benefits of China-Pakistan cooperation.
Third, forge ahead hand in hand and explore new practices for global governance. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit last year, President Xi Jinping, bearing in mind the future of humanity and the trends of the times, put forward the Global Governance Initiative. The Initiative advocates adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach and focusing on taking real actions, offering a Chinese solution for building a fairer and more equitable global governance system. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif voiced firm support on the spot, noting that the Initiative is of great significance to world peace, development and stability. He described it as a historic step toward stronger multilateralism, which will help the global governance system better meet the needs of developing countries and address common challenges facing humanity. At a critical stage amid complex evolving international and regional situations, President Xi Jinping put forward four propositions on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke highly of as a guiding framework for peace in the region. China and Pakistan also jointly issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East Region, taking concrete actions to implement the Global Governance Initiative. President Xi Jinping commended Pakistan for taking the initiative to play a mediating role in restoring peace in the Middle East during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Guided by the consensus between our two leaders and the joint initiatives of the two countries, we will maintain close communication and coordination with Pakistan on major international and regional issues, revitalize the authority and core role of the United Nations, and reform and improve global governance. We will jointly oppose unilateralism and the Cold War mentality, and work together to advance an equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year marks not only the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, but also the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and an important year for further advancing Uraan Pakistan plan. The modernization drive of both countries and the all-weather strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan have entered a new phase with important opportunities, calling for greater efforts and contributions from all sectors of both sides. For a long time, media and think tanks of the two countries, including Xinhua News Agency and the ISSI, have worked closely together. They interpret the development stories of our two countries, publicize the achievements of CPEC, and carry forward the ironclad China-Pakistan friendship. Their efforts have fostered solid public support, pooled broad social consensus and galvanized driving forces for the growth of bilateral relations. As China’s national and global news agency, Xinhua has operated in Pakistan for 70 years, making outstanding contributions to building a bridge of mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. We are convinced that with the joint efforts of all sectors in both countries, we will carry forward our ironclad friendship, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future for a new era, and make new and greater contributions to regional peace and stability as well as the progress of humanity.
Wish this seminar a complete success!
Wish the friendship between China and Pakistan last forever!
Wish all guests every success!
Thank you!
