China and Pakistan sign joint declaration

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 05, 2003

China and Pakistan sign joint declaration

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf signed Monday a joint declaration on the directions of bilateral cooperation. Following is the full text of the declaration:

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Chinese President Hu Jintao and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf signed Monday a joint declaration on the directions of bilateral cooperation. Following is the full text of the declaration:

JOINT DECLARATION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THEISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN ON DIRECTIONS OF BILATERAL COOPERATION

The People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (hereinafter referred to as the "two parties") have similar historical experience and common aspirations for peace, progress in the region and the world. The two parties have developed an exemplary state-to-state relationship on the basis ofthe Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two parties on 21 May 1951, China-Pakistan good-neighborly and friendly relations,fostered by the successive generations of leaders of both countries, have been growing from strength to strength and bilateral cooperation remain fruitful. The two parties have already established a future-oriented all-round cooperative partnership.

The good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two partieshave been an important and indispensable factor for peace and stability in Asia and have contributed to greater international understanding and amity. The two countries have developed wide-ranging mutually beneficial cooperation with the aim of promoting socio-economic development and ensuring prosperity and better future for their peoples.

The two parties stress that the relationship between China and Pakistan is based on mutual respect of each other's sovereignty, independence, culture and traditions, mutual trust and mutual support. Such a relationship, with its profound popular basis, great vitality and tremendous potential of growth, should remain dynamic forever and be passed on to the future generations. The further consolidation and strengthening of the existing good-neighborly and friendly relations not only serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but also contributes to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The two parties have firm belief in the centrality of the United Nations in the promotion of world peace and development and will continue to cooperate in this regard. Both countries share common values in the conduct of their international relations and stand for peaceful settlement of international disputes and upholding ofthe purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

The two parties have maintained close cooperation in the multilateral fora. They have supported each other internationally in pursuit of the common objectives of peace and development. Similarly, the two parties have consistently supported peace initiatives in Asia and efforts aimed at developing and strengthening economic cooperation and activity that would benefitthe peoples of the continent.

Pakistan supports the BOAO Forum for Asia (BFA) and commends its efforts to promote and enhance economic activity and regional economic cooperation in Asia and with other countries.

At the beginning of the new century, the two parties are committedto develop closer bilateral relations and further deepen and broaden their all-weather friendship and all-round cooperative partnership. In the spirit of this commitment, the two parties hereby state as follows:

1. The two parties agree to maintain frequent exchange of high-level visits and contacts and strengthen the exchange of visits and communication between their government departments, Parliaments, political parties, armed forces, non-governmental organizations and local organizations with a view to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship and promoting an all-round, steady and deepened development of the bilateral relations.

2. The two parties stress the important role of annual diplomatic consultations mechanisms in enhancing bilateral political cooperation and agree to strengthen consultations and exchanges between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs at various levels and in various areas to share views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest, and maintainregular exchanges and coordination on various occasions.

3. The two parties agree to build on the current sound basis of cooperation, make full use of their political and geographical advantages and promote cooperation in the realms of economy, trade,investment, agriculture, technology and tourism in accordance withthe principles of equality, mutual benefit, efficiency, mutual complementarities, diversity of forms and common development. To this end, the two parties will

(1) Continue to strengthen the guidance and coordination on economic and trade cooperation. Both sides will give play to the role of China-Pakistan Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (JEC) and explore new approaches and channels for mutually beneficial economic and tradecooperation. To further tap the potential of bilateral economic cooperation, the two parties agree to strengthen the role of China-Pakistan Business Council. The two parties will also improve related laws and regulations, standardize enterprise behavior, andcreate favorable conditions and offer necessary facilitation for the economic and trade and investment activities of their companies, enterprises and organizations.

(2) Actively expand bilateral trade and entrust JEC to take appropriate steps in that direction. The two parties agree to encourage and support two-way investment by their enterprises in accordance with the agreements on the promotion and protection of investment between the two governments, domestic laws and their respective international obligations. They agree to expand bilateral trade on the basis of the newly concluded preferential trade arrangement with the ultimate goal of establishing a free trade arrangement. The two parties agree to strengthen cooperationin contract labor services, and take necessary measures to furtherpromote bilateral trade.

(3) Promote and standardize border trade. The two parties will take steps to facilitate existing border trade and further take steps to conclude a new border trade agreement so as to promote their economic development and social stability, especially in theborder areas.

(4) Guide and encourage their government departments, scientific research institutes, universities and high-tech enterprises to conduct broad technological cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as telecommunication, water conservancy, electric power, aviation and space technology, computer, automation, metallurgy, IT, medicine and health, petrochemistry, biotechnologyand peaceful utilization of nuclear power. The two parties will endeavor to promote transfer of know-how and exchange of information. In this context, the two parties will give full play to the guiding and coordinative role of the intergovernmental Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

Strengthen cooperation in nonproliferation and export control. Thetwo parties will consider launching, at an appropriate time, the negotiation and conclusion of a bilateral agreement on mutually issuing of ultimate consumer and end use certificate.

(5) Promote mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, forestry and fishery and make the best of the rich natural resources and strong complementarities of the two countries to encourage and support enhanced exchanges and cooperation between the relevant enterprises and departments in agricultural technology, processing of agricultural and forest products, manufacturing of agricultural machineries, offshore fishing and aquaculture.

(6) Promote close cooperation in the industrial sector, including sharing of professional expertise and joint production with raw materials and technologies of both sides and development of industrial zones, industrial harbors, export free zones and human resources, give play to the leading role of large enterprises and enhance cooperation among small and medium enterprises. They agreeto encourage and facilitate collaboration between the private sectors of the two countries and promote the establishment of joint ventures, particularly in the field of textile manufacturing.

(7) Strengthen exchanges and cooperation in fiscal and financial areas and in macro-economic control.

(8) Strengthen transport cooperation and promote interflow of personnel and commodities through Karakoram Highway.

(9) Hold more investment and trade fairs and commodity fairs in their major commercial cities to enhance mutual understanding between their enterprises. The key chambers of commerce of both countries (the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Federation of All Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry) will establish a regular exchange mechanism.

(10) Expand cooperation in tourism. Pakistan has been designated as a destination for outbound Chinese tourists. The two parties will finalize the concrete measures as early as possible, to increase the number of tourists, expand tourism markets and enhance tourism promotion.

4. The two parties attach great importance to the role of the China-Pakistan Defense and Security Consultation Mechanism in promoting military-to-military exchanges and cooperation. To develop defense cooperation, the two parties should, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, continue to actively conduct exchanges and cooperation at all levels and in all fields, including exchange of visits, personnel training, armed forces training, culture and sports. In this regard, the efforts of the Sino-Pakistan Joint Committee on Cooperation in Defense Technologyand Industry shall be supported to enhance defense industrial cooperation.

5. The two parties agree to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, public health, sports, media and religion. Both agree to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples through exchange of students, teachers, delegations, art performance groups, experts and exhibitions. Special importance will be attached to the friendly exchanges and communication between the youth to enhance their awareness of China-Pakistan traditional friendship, and ensure that they will inherit and develop the friendship, mutual trust and cooperation between the two peoples.

Noting the serious threat facing the world environment, the two parties agree to cooperate with each other in this field in a joint effort to prevent water and air pollution, soil erosion and unsustainable deforestation. The two parties agree to cooperate onefficient and economical use of energy and on research and development for sustainable management of natural resources and improvement of the environment.

6. The two parties agree that separatism, extremism and terrorism pose serious threats to regional security and stability. Both sides are resolved to strengthen coordination and cooperation under bilateral and multilateral frameworks. They will actively support and facilitate substantive cooperation between their departments in combating separatism, extremism and terrorism with a view to safeguarding regional peace and stability.

7. The two parties will promote mutual assistance in criminal and legal matters and law enforcement cooperation between the departments concerned and build closer ties in the surrender of fugitive offenders, investigation and taking of evidence, sharing of criminal information, crackdown on organized transnational crimes, economic and other crimes, such as smuggling of drugs, weapons and ammunition, and trafficking in human beings.

8. The Chinese side reaffirms that it respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, and appreciatesand supports the efforts of Pakistan for peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with neighbors and to safeguard its state sovereignty and independence. The Pakistani side reaffirms that itwill continue to consistently adhere to the one-China policy, and recognize the Government of the People's Republic of China as thesole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan an inalienable and indivisible part of Chinese territory, and fully support China's cause of peaceful reunification.

9. The two parties are satisfied with their close and efficient cooperation over the years in international and regional affairs. Both sides share the view that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other universally recognized norms governing international relations must be respected by all countries and that the central role of the UN in international affairs should be maintained and strengthened, especially through faithful implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council. The two parties agree to continue to strengthen their communication and collaboration in international and regional affairs and commit themselves to enhanced solidarity and cooperation among developing countries andmaintenance of their legitimate rights and interests in the process of globalization, enhancement of regional and global peaceand security, and to the establishment of a new international political and economic order that is fair and rational.

Both sides agree that the visit of President Pervez Musharraf to China has been an outstanding success and a new milestone in the further strengthening of mutual understanding, trust and the traditionally close friendly cooperation between the two countries.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf extended cordial invitations to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to pay visits to Pakistan at their convenience. The invitations have been warmly accepted.

President Pervez Musharraf expressed his appreciation to the Government and the people of the People's Republic of China for their warm and friendly hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.

Done in duplicate at Beijing on 3 November 2003 in the Chinese andEnglish languages, both texts being equally valid.

(Hu Jintao) President of the People's Republic of China

(Pervez Musharraf) President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

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