Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz inaugurated the first Pakistan-China
Energy Forum in Islamabad Tuesday.
"The phenomenal economic growth and technological transformation
of China is a source of strength for us," he said in a keynote
speech to over 500 government officials, entrepreneurs and scholars
from both China and Pakistan.
"We take great pride in the economic accomplishments of China
and wish to develop further linkages to fully realize the
tremendous potential that our economic complementarities provide
for common progress and prosperity," he said.
Pointing out that the Pak-China friendship is deeper than the
deepest oceans and mightier than the mightiest of mountains, Aziz
said, "Pakistan should be the destination of choice for Chinese
investment because of close geographical proximity and our
geo-economic relevance."
"Time has come to reinforce our traditional friendship with a
strong and vibrant economic partnership," he added.
In his speech, First Vice Chairman of the All China Federation
of Industry and Commerce Hu Deping said that China and Pakistan are
all-weather friends and are enjoying all-dimensional brotherly
friendship.
"Pakistan has been the most trustworthy friend to China," Hu
said. "The relationship between the two countries has never been
shaken or twisted."
Hu said that the two sides are developing energy sources which
are recyclable, environment-friendly and replaceable.
"Today we exchange views at the same forum. Tomorrow we may
drill on the same oil field," Hu said.
Mao Siwei, Charge d' Affaires ad Interim of the Chinese embassy
said that the Pakistan-China Energy Forum has been a rare economic
event in the two countries' economic activities in Pakistan in
recent years, which is significant to the further promotion of the
two countries' economic relations, the strengthening of their
energy cooperation and the establishment of the energy corridor
through Pakistan to China.
(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2006)
