Zardari’s recent visit to China highly successful, President Xi Jinping

Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 7:03 pm

$Zardari\'s recent visit to China highly successful, President Xi Jinping$ BEIJING: Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping here Saturday termed President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to China highly successful and said it pushed forward the strategic partnership between the two countries and brought their bilateral ties to a new height.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani held on the sidelines of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit at the Great Hall of the People, he said President Zardari’s state visit produced solid results, deepening bilateral relationship and cooperation at all levels of mutual interest.

Referring to the agreements signed during Zardari’s visit, he said these were important documents and would give boost to the socio-economic partnership between Pakistan and China.

Vice President Xi Jinping, who is likely to be China’s future President and head of Communist Party of China as per Chinese tradition after the incumbent President Hu Jintao, also mentioned the importance of the joint statement issued by the two countries at the end of President Zardari’s visit.

He said the statement reflected fast growing bilateral relationship in diverse fields.

Reciprocating the sentiments of the Chinese leader, Prime
Minister Gilani said the people of the two countries attached great importance to their strategic relationship. About the depth of the fraternal ties, he said Sino-Pak relationship has great potential to continue from generation to generation with same warmth and zeal.

The Chinese top leader welcomed Pakistan’s formal entry into
ASEM, hoping that it will have significant contribution towards the objectives of this important organization that brings the continents of Asia and Europe together.

Gilani told special correspondent Javed Akhtar that he held very useful meeting with the Chinese leader and invited him to visit Pakistan. Vice President Jinping accepted the invitation and said he would feel pleasure to visit China’s traditional ally, time-tested and all-weather friend. The dates of the visit will be worked out through diplomatic channels.

During the meeting, the Chinese leader recalled his old memories and personal association with Karakarrum Highway during its construction.

He also pointed out that Pak-China friendship has been passing through various periods very successfully, reaching today to fifth generation and the two sides were consistently maintaining the warmth of their deep attachment and love at people-to-people level.

Gilani during the talks referred to contribution of Bhutto family in laying strong foundation of the Sino-Pak ever-growing tries. The personal attachment of Shaheed Z. A. Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto with China had been unprecedented, he said.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Pakistan ambassador in Beijing Masood Khan also accompanied the Prime Minister during the talks.

Later, the Prime Minister also had a meeting with Jia Qingling, chairman, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

They discussed the possibility of further strengthening the existing cooperation at the level of the two Parliaments.

Meanwhile, the Asian and European leaders meeting have called for a “comprehensive reform” of the global financial system.

At a news conference at the close of the 45-member of ASEM,
Chinese Primer Wen Jiabao said greater regulation was needed to avoid another crisis. “We need financial innovation, but we need financial oversight even more,” he added.

He also called for greater cooperation between nations. “We need to enhance cooperation between all countries because only with cooperation we can create the strength to overcome hardships.”