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China, Pakistan sign cooperation treaty
By Zhao Huanxin (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-04-06 09:24 ISLAMABAD -- China and Pakistan signed on
Tuesday night a treaty for friendly and neighbourly co-operation, pledging to
upgrade their strategic partnership to an even higher level.
The pact,
which came after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's talks with his counterpart Shaukat
Aziz Tuesday night, encapsulated the successful experience of bilateral
relations in more than half a century, and charted the course for future
development.
Pakistan Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz (R) exchanges document after signing an agreement
with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, after talks at the prime minister's house
in Islamabad April 5, 2005. Chinese Premier Wen began a tour of South Asia
in Pakistan on Tuesday, reinforcing a strategic alliance between the old
friends and signing a range of agreements on economic and trade
cooperation. [Reuters] | In addition to the treaty, the two countries also inked a
dozen of other accords, including those on fighting terrorism, extremism and
separatism, and on early harvest programme of a Free Trade Agreement between the
two countries.
Wen said it is a common task for China and Pakistan to
further consolidate and promote their relations. The two countries should work
to ensure a long-term
and steady growth of their ties, and develop a closer
strategic partnership in line with the stipulations of the treaty, he
said.
Aziz echoed by saying relations with China constitute a "foodstone"
for his country's foreign policy, adding relationship with China has entered a
dynamic new phase.
He spoke highly of the friendly treaty, saying it will
shed profound light on bilateral relations in future.
He suggested both
sides to work together in energy, transportation, culture and tourism
sectors.
Wen told Aziz China and Pakistan are good neighbours, friends
and partners, and Sino-Pak friendship has withstood test of times and
international vicissitudes.
Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao (L) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz listen to a question
during a news conference in Islamabad April 5, 2005. Chinese Premier Wen
began a tour of South Asia in Pakistan on Tuesday, reinforcing a strategic
alliance between the old friends and signing a range of agreements on
economic and trade cooperation. [Reuters] | The "all-weather" friendship and all-faceted
co-operation is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two
peoples as well as the peace, stability and development in the region, he said
in a written speech delivered to the media.
Warm welcome
The premier flew from late spring in Beijing to early summer of Islamabad to
immerse himself in the warmth of Pakistani hospitality.
On a highway across the Islamabad Chaklala Airbase and on the meadow in front
of the Presidential Palace stood colossal portraits of Chinese and Pakistani
presidents and premiers, with one of a huge banner proclaiming "Sino-Pak
friendship is loftier than the mountain and deeper than the ocean."
Faiz
Muhammad, assistant director of the Capital Development Authority in Islamabad,
said on Tuesday the city is preparing in the warmest way it could ever do to
greet the Chinese guests.
"Pakistan and China are already in very good
rapports, and we anticipate the relations to get even better than before," he
said.
Ahead of Wen's trip, Salman Bashir, Pakistan's new ambassador to
China, said the visit will be another milestone in the history of bilateral
relations.
Sino-Pakistan trade soared by 26 per cent year on year to
reach a record high of US$3 billion in 2004. The two-way trade increased by 33
per cent through this
February to US$450 million, indicated the latest
Chinese customs statistics.
The ambassador was quoted by Xinhua as saying
China's interaction with South Asia is "a factor of peace and stability in the
region and the world."
Tight agenda
Pakistan is Premier Wen's first leg of a four-nation South Asian tour, which
will also take him to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India through April
12.
The premier is due to address the 4th foreign minister's meeting of
the Asia Co-operation Dialogue, which is scheduled to open in Islamabad today
(April
6).
Wen's three-day agenda also includes meetings with
Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf and other leaders on
Wednesday.
His other activities include attending the foundation stone
laying ceremony of Pakistan-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad.
He will
fly to Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city and a cultural and educational
centre, late on Wednesday.
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