Prime Minister Imran Khan's China Visit To Take Friendly Ties To New Heights: Former Diplomats

Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent visit to China and interaction with Chinese top leadership would usher in a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two all-weather friends, former Chinese and Pakistani diplomats said on Wednesday.

BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Nov, 2018 ) :Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent visit to China and interaction with Chinese top leadership would usher in a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two all-weather friends, former Chinese and Pakistani diplomats said on Wednesday.

The visit of the prime minister of Pakistan was a great success as people from all walks of life from both sides were commending it, they expressed these views during a reception hosted here by Hasib ur Rehman, Chief Representative, Askari Bank.

Former Ambassador Lu Shulin, who served as Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan remarked that "The visit would take China-Pakistan friendship to the new heights and it has opened a new chapter of bilateral ties".

Ambassador Lu Shulin, senior advisor to China Institute of International Strategic Studies and standing member of China-Pakistan Friendship Association , observed that both Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Xi Jinping have unanimous views that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would build a community of shared future.

He said people to people contact was the central point of friendship and the cooperation as a result of the new agreements will further cement the existing ties and comprehensive meetings of top Chinese leadership with the visiting prime minister were testimony to this fact.

Prof Lu Shuilin, former Chief of urdu Department, China Radio International (CRI) said the two countries have historical relations and Indus valley and Gandhara civilizations have great influence on the Chinese civilization.

Prof Lu Shuilin who has translated Pakistan Television Classic Drama Serial "Waris" into the Chinese language opined that as a result of this visit the people of two countries have come more closer to each other.

He stressed to expedite the efforts to promote the exchange of scholars, writers, and artists enabling people of both sides to understand each other's culture, literature and language.

Former Ambassador Karamat Ullah Ghauri, who also served as a senior diplomat in China highly appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan for his efforts to consult friendly countries to overcome economic challenges being faced by Pakistan."I think, the prime minister has been successful in his endeavor to muster support from friendly countries," he remarked.

Ambassador Karamat Ghauri, currently visiting Beijing, remarked that some countries were unhappy over Pak-China cooperation on Gwadar port, which was a shortest and economically viable route to transport goods to the middle East, Central Asia, and other regions.

"We have to keep an eye on the geopolitical situation in the region and we should not allow anyone to harm our exemplary and time-tested relations," he added.

Ambassador Karamat Ghauri also commended President Xi Jinping for organizing an international export expo in Shanghai and opening of the Chinese market for other countries.

Prof Zhang Shixuan, a famous Urdu poet in China who has adopted a Pakistani name - Intikhab Alam called for further cementing cultural bonds and increase people to people contacts through cooperation under culture and literature.

Prof Zhang, who translated a number of Urdu books and poetry in the Chinese language, proposed that people of two countries should learn each other's languages which will play a role of a bridge between the two people.

The Chinese government was encouraging more young Chinese to learn Urdu and informed that at least seven Chinese universities have set up Urdu departments and the number of students was increasing day by day, he added.

He said around 23,000 Pakistani students are currently studying in China and said it was a remarkable achievement in enhancing people to people relations.