China playing pivotal role to ensure peace, stability in South Asia

By Chu Meng

China is playing a pivotal role to ensure peace and stability in South Asia, Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif saidin Beijing late Wednesday.

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Photo by Zhang Yin

Sharif said China was Pakistan’s “most reliable friend” and that the countries’ “all-weather” friendship was “time-tested” and will remain strong.

“Pakistan and China are enjoying excellent fiendly relations in manifold arenas, which are growing with the passage of time. The two countries have an identical vision on most issues of global and regional significance,” said Sharif, who heads the opposition party Pkistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

He said he appreciated the strong support of China’s leaders and citizens and their generous assistance to Pakistan over the years. China’s substantial contributions to the kistani economy have won the gratitude of the people, Sharif said. He said he is confident Sino-Pakistan ties would continue to prosper, and that he would contribute to the effort whenever the opportunity arose.

Some 10,000 Chinese workers are involved in 120 projects in Pakistan, including infrastructure construction, power generation, mining and telecommunications development, the Council on Foreign Relations said. Chinese investments in the country amounted to $4 billion (27 billion yuan) in 2007 and is expected to rise to $15 billion this year, the Washington-based think tank said.

Sharif was received by Vice President Xi Jinping when he arrived with his delegation Monday. On Wednesday, he visited top local businesses. Deputy Minister of the Communist Party of China’s International Department, Liu Jieyi, hosted a luncheon meeting for Sharif where they discussed biateral cooperation and the region’s security.

Sharif will be meeting with government leaders and economists during his one-week stay.