Printer Friendly Version

PR. No.297/2008

Date: 27/09/2008    

FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI MEETS CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER

The Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi today met with the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi on the sidelines of the 63rd UN General Assembly session.

2.       The Foreign Minister said that he was looking forward to visit China alongside President Zardari in the middle of October. The visit he felt will set a new tone for the bilateral relations. The President valued China’s friendship which was demonstrated by his decision to send his son for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Pakistan was particularly interested in promoting economic collaboration with China and was aiming to raise the bilateral trade from $ 7 billion to $ 15 billion by 2011.

3.       The Chinese Foreign Minister said that China appreciated the visit of Prime Minister Gilani and Bilawal Zardari for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. He also welcomed President Zardari’s proposed visit to China.

4.       Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi said that Pakistan-China friendship was friendship between the peoples of the two countries. They were also the beneficiaries of this relationship. Both countries, he noted, should continue to deepen the relations in diverse fields so that more people could benefit from it. China was proud to have assisted Pakistan and had done its best to advance cooperation. China would endeavor to continue this cooperation in the future as well. He said that China attached great importance to the PPP Government’s commitment to promote friendly relations with China. He hoped that under the PPP government Pakistan will make progress in a sound and steady way.

5.       He said the families of the kidnapped Chinese nationals were concerned about their safety. China appreciated the complexity of the matter and the efforts made by the Pakistan government for their safe release. Foreign Minister Qureshi assured the Chinese Foreign Minister that the safety of Chinese nationals was important to Pakistan and it will do everything to ensure their protection.

New York
27 September 2008