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| March 26, 2003 | Wednesday | Muharram 22, 1424 |
Sino-Pakistan ties ensure regional stability: Jamali
BEIJING, March 25: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Tuesday described Pakistan-China friendship as a good example of neighbourly relations and assurance for regional peace and stability.
“Our friendship is enduring. Over the decades, it has remained constant and unaffected by domestic and transformation of international environment,” he told Chinese scholars and political analysts at a luncheon meeting.
The luncheon was hosted by He Luli, vice-chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress.
Ms He referred to the time-tested friendship relations saying: “We are good neighbours, we are good relatives and good partners in the fullest sense.”
The prime minister said that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reaffirmed the commitment of new leadership of China to the traditional friendly cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Jamali said that after meeting the Chinese premier, he had become confident that the friendship and cooperation between the two countries would further strength and serve the interest of regional peace and stability.
He deplored the military action against Iraq, and said that Pakistan along with China made strenuous efforts for peaceful solution of the problem. “All avenues must have been explored since the use of force is envisaged in the UN Charter only under extreme situations.”
Mr Jamali regretted that a consensus between the permanent members of the UN Security Council could not be reached and the efforts of non-permanent members of the council, including Pakistan, could not bridge the divide.
Pakistan, he said, believed that the military action should not prolong. “Priority must be given to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq must be preserved.”
Most importantly, he said, the UN Security Council should resume its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
“The military action against Iraq should not be considered as setting a precedent in the conduct of inter-state relations,” he added.
The prime minister said that Islamabad believed in preserving the centrality of the United Nations and at the same time, the UNSC should uphold international legality equitably by implementing all its resolutions without selectivity.
Mr Jamali described terrorism as a new danger for global peace and called for fighting the evil.
On the positive side of global changes, he said the foremost was the great economic development of China and the transformation brought about by communications and information revolution.
He said: “China and the Far East have emerged as new economic powers on the global scene. China’s economy has been a factor of support and stability for the economy of the entire Asia Pacific region.”
Mr Jamali said another positive indicator was the increasing consolidation of regional arrangements for economic cooperation. The European Union and the ASEAN were two outstanding examples.—APP
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