Pakistan welcomes enhanced cooperation between China and South Asia as it believes that a stronger and deeper engagement with China will bode well for the region’s economic development, peace and stability, said Pakistan’s acting Ambassador to China here.

“China is a major force in international relations today.

It is the second largest economy of the world and despite the Chinese traditional modesty, the fact is that no major international decision can be taken without the concurrence of China,” said Charge d’ Affaires, Zahoor Ahmed.

In his Keynote address at the 2012 Annual Conference of Chinese Association for South Asian Studies in Shanghai Saturday evening he said that today, the impression that China is a true and reliable friend of Pakistan is deeply etched in the collective memory of the people of Pakistan.

Likewise, the Chinese people consider Pakistan a true and sincere friend.

The young Chinese on the internet have coined a special term for Pakistani friends batie, he said, adding that over the years many terms have been used to describe this relationship an all weather friendship, higher than Himalayas, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey, stronger than steel.

All these highlight the value attached to these relations by both sides, he said.

Interaction between the two countries at the highest level is a hallmark of our friendship, he said, adding that 16 high level visits of Pakistani leadership to China, during the last four years, bear testimony to our commitment to nurturing this friendship.

He pointed out that Pakistani politics is full of diverse opinions. But all political parties value and respect Pakistan’s friendship with China.

In December 2010, when Premier Wen Jiabao visited Pakistan, he addressed the joint session of parliament. It was a sign of our love for China and respect for its leadership that all members of parliament, both from treasury and opposition benches, attended the session and gave standing applause to the Chinese leader, he said.

For all the countries of South Asian region China is an important economic partner and neighbor, he said adding that It’s shares borders with five South Asian countries.

China, he said has observer status in the South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC) since 2005. It has been actively attending all SAARC events at a high-level.

Terrorism is a common enemy of Pakistan and China, he said, adding that the two countries are determined to fight the evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Over the years we have been successfully cooperating in this regard.

He said that China recognizes the tremendous sacrifices Pakistan has made in the war against terrorism. We deeply appreciate China’s support to our efforts in upholding our sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Pakistan, he said also fully endorses China’s stand on Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang.

“Our delegations to the Security Council and other multinational organizations closely coordinate with each other and our perspectives on major international and regional issues are similar. We consult and support each other on global governance, UN reform, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, climate change and food security, to name a few areas,” Zahoor obsReuters

Earlier, Professor Du Youkang, Director Pakistan Studies Centre at Fudan University, Professor Sun Shihai President, Chinese Association for South Asian Studies and a large number of scholars, researchers and members of the academia working on South Asia also participated in the conference and expressed their views on China’s relations with South Asian countries.

Source: APP