Pakistani ambassador: President Xi's visit to give impetus to China-Pakistan relationships

Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khalid gives an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan. (Photo source: Xinhuanet photo)

BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhuanet) – Chinese President Xi Jinping's coming visit to Pakistan is of great significance in giving an impetus to China-Pakistan relationships, Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khalid said lately in an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet.

The ambassador holds President Xi's visit will be a major step to strengthen the ongoing cooperation which is diverse and multi-layered, adding that he expects good result from this visit.

Masood Khalid added the vision of the "Belt and Road" initiative is very far-sighted and promising.

It is to promote economic development, progress and common prosperity. It is to reduce frictions, tensions and sources of conflicts by setting up economic linkages and connectivity. It's a long-term, future-perspective and positive vision, showing the wisdom of Chinese leadership, he said.

The two sides are committed to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key component of the "Belt and Road" initiative. This bilateral two-way project will not only benefit China and Pakistan, but also give positive economic momentum to other countries in this region.

Talking about the anti-terror efforts, the ambassador said Pakistan and China are on the same page to combat terrorism, extremism and separatism. The two sides have cooperated in information-sharing and strengthened border control.

President Xi's visit will give a big boost to China-Pakistani relationships, he noted.

Strong Friendship

President Xi Jinping's visit symbolizes strong friendship between China and Pakistan. People of Pakistan look forward to giving warm reception to President Xi, Masood Khalid said.

The bilateral relationship is not confined to that between the governments and the high levels, this is rooted in the minds and hearts of the two peoples, he went on.

"If you come to Pakistan, you tell anybody on the road that you're from China, they will warmly welcome you. That's a very spontaneous and sincere reaction and response. Similar response I find in Chinese toward Pakistani people." said the ambassador, noting that it has laid a solid base for consolidating the two nations’ relationships.

The two sides cooperate in politics, economy, trade, culture, education, science and technology, and people-to-people, culture-to-culture, government-to-government, intellectual and media contacts.

The ambassador expressed his gratitude to Chinese government's help to evacuate 176 Pakistani nationals from the war-torn Yemen. Pakistan also contributed to helping evacuate eight Chinese students.

"It reflected our close bonds and close friendship. When facing difficult situation, we give each other a hand, "he said.

Explore more ways of trade cooperation

The building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor gives a momentum to bilateral trade. The two sides have good architecture for cooperation, especially since the free trade pact was signed and relevant policies implemented from 2008. Bilateral trade increased greatly, achieving a trade volume of 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, the ambassador said.

He pointed out that many areas of trade cooperation are yet to be explored. For now, bilateral trade is mostly in traditional areas, Pakistani rice, cotton and textiles for China’s machinery, computers and telephones. Other areas that contain new business opportunities could include fishery, textiles, precious stone and quality fruits.

He welcomed Chinese enterprises to run business in Pakistan and promised to help them finding partners in various sectors.

Still, creative ways of cooperation need to be explored and implemented, he said.