“Pak-China Friendship is higher than Himalayas and deeper than Oceans,” this statement was made in Islamabad, as Pakistan and China launched this year as the “Pak-China Friendship year-2011” on January 1; indicating a strengthening of relations between the two Asian nations.
The ceremony that launched the ties of friendship was held at Pak-China Friendship Centre – built by China and donated to Pakistan as a symbol of lasting friendship.
The event was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy and was attended by a large number of Pakistanis and Chinese nationals including Naval officials, diplomats, members of the federal cabinet, politicians, business community representatives, Chinese working in Pakistan and elite of the federal capital.
Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China were established in January 1950 when Pakistan recognized the People’s Republic of China – and opened its embassy on May 21, 1951 in Beijing.
According to the Geo Pakistan, while inaugurating the yearlong celebrations, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan and China enjoy excellent political and diplomatic relations and time has come to take a leap forward to bind the two nations together economically in all fields including politics, economy, culture, and education.
The Pakistani foreign minister said there was tremendous goodwill and trust between the two countries and they can move towards economic integration. He said the present government is concentrating on economic diplomacy as national security and territorial integrity are closely linked to economic strength.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian expressed the confidence that strategic relationship between the two countries would continue to grow. He said the Chinese Premier recently, paid a very successful visit to Pakistan that would help forge ties between the two countries.
The Chinese ambassador said the Pakistani government and people welcomed Premier Wen Jiabao with great warmth and enthusiasm. He said in the last 60 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed an all-weather friendship and conducted multi-dimensional cooperation in different fields.
The Chinese ambassador said despite volatile and unstable international circumstances, the China-Pakistan friendship remained as strong and solid as a rock, standing firm despite the passage of time.
According to China Daily, Liu said China and Pakistan will hold a series of wonderful commemorative activities covering such fields as politics, economy, culture, education, sports, military and others in 2011.
At the end of the ceremony, a cultural show was held; depicting folk songs of different areas of Pakistan while some Chinese traditional dances were staged by Chinese dancers.