Islamabad (TDI): Praising China’s remarkable growth and rise on the global stage, President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the development showcased by Beijing was a positive thing and there was no need for the world to fear it.
Speaking during an interview to the Chinese state media on his 5-day visit to the country, President Zardari said that Beijing’s fast-paced development and transformation over the past few decades had impressed him to a great extent.
“China has never been an occupier, so why should one neighbour which knows that the Chinese are not the kind who want to interfere in other nations be scared. I would never be scared of China,” the president said.
“I would be scared of another nation but not China,” he added.
He said that individual excellence showcased by the people of China in their respective fields is resulting in the collective benefit of the country.
The president, in the first week of February, visited China on an invitation of his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.
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During his stay in Bejing, President Zardari, accompanied by a delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Dr Asim Hussain held multiple meetings with Chinese leadership including President Xi and Prime Minister Li Qiang.
The trip entailed discussions pertaining to accelerating China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, and security measures for Chinese citizens, promoting collaboration in science and technology, renewable energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors and many other matters of mutual interests.
Furthermore, the two nations also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistani and Chinese businesses.
During his meeting with the Chinese premier, President Zardari emphasized the enduring and deep-rooted China-Pakistan “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” nurtured by successive generations of the leaders of both nations.
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He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, stressing the time-tested, deep-rooted, and enduring partnership between the two nations.
Meanwhile, lauding China’s foreign policy during the interview, President Zardari said that as Beijing’s neighbour, Pakistan was aware of the former’s policy of non-interference with regard to internal matters of other nations.
China’s foreign policy, he said, was a source of regional stability.
