Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing Pakistan and China as “iron brothers” and enjoying “unbreachable” friendship, has stated that his meetings with Chinese leadership remained most productive and useful.
“We are iron brothers because this friendship is unbreachable. Nobody can damage this friendship. Nobody can find any space in this friendship no matter what. We will remain friends. We have been friends and we are there forever,” Shehbaz told China Global Television (CGTN) during his recent two-day official visit to China.
Besides China-Pakistan relations as well as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the prime minister during the interview also talked about the regional and international situation.
To a question, Shehbaz said he was returning to Pakistan “hugely strengthened and encouraged” by massive support from the Chinese leadership to work jointly for the good of two peoples, promote CPEC and B2B (business-to-business) investment in Pakistan and also jointly deal with the issues which relate to international considerations.
The prime minister said it was a matter of great privilege and honor for him to have visited China on the invitation of Chinese leadership and being the first foreign leader to do so after the 20th National Congress of Chinese Communist Party (CPC). “It is a great manifestation of our iron brotherhood. It speaks volumes of our friendship, mutual trust and mutual understanding. We deeply appreciate this gesture of the Chinese leadership,” he added.
The prime minister said during his visit he had back-to-back meetings, most importantly the meetings with President Xi and Premier Li, which were “most friendly, productive, frank and useful”.
He said that China and Pakistan agreed to enhance their consultative process to discuss the geopolitical situation, and to discuss how to bring progress and prosperity not only in Pakistan but in the region.
To another question, the prime minister said that China had always been a very prosperous and rich country, adding, “But the foreign entities who came here, made it a colony and looted and plundered its resources.”
He added that China, who had been bestowed upon by God Almighty with ample resources and energy, had not shown, in anybody’s remotest imagination, any germs of expansionism.
“To the contrary, China’s philosophy or President Xi’s philosophy is about globalization, is about interaction, is about prosperity and progress,” the Prime Minister maintained.
He said that the policy of those who believed in containment [of China] were sadly mistaken, adding, however, “they will never be able to contain China.” The prime minister said that China is a power and the world cannot operate without China.
“China believes in peaceful means. So Chinese military’s progress is not for aggression, it is for its defence and rightly so,” he added.
“Keeping in view the past history, China cannot afford to remain weak in this area, therefore China is within its right to be militarily strong. Yet be very cautious and careful as not to give even the slightest of impression that this power is for aggression,” he remarked.
PM meets UN official
Also, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday held a meeting with Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of United Nations Julien Harnies and informed him about the permanent effects on the lives of people in the areas affected by unprecedented floods. He also informed her about the measures taken for the rehabilitation of flood victims and about the activities of the government for rescue and relief.
He said Pakistan was already facing difficult economic conditions and then had to face economic losses of $40 billion because of floods. The prime minister thanked United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres who came to visit the flood affected areas of Pakistan and became the voice of Pakistanis in the whole world. Julien Harnies expressed sympathy with the flood affectees and reiterated complete support of the United Nations for their rehabilitation. He declared steps taken by government as “exemplary” for the timely rescue, rehabilitation and restoration of the affectees. staff report/app
