(Translation)

Carry On Traditional Friendship

And Deepen All-round Cooperation

Address by Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
At Islamabad Convention Center

Islamabad, 24 November 2006

Distinguished President Pervez Musharraf,

Distinguished Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to speak to you here at the Islamabad Convention Center. First of all, I would like to convey the cordial greetings and best wishes of the 1.3 billion Chinese people to you and, through you, to our Pakistani brothers and sisters.

This is my second visit to Pakistan. I first visited your beautiful country in 1984. In the 22 years since, the world has gone through tremendous changes, so have China and Pakistan. But the profound friendship between our peoples has remained unchanged. Since we arrived yesterday, my delegation and I have been accorded gracious hospitality by the government and people of Pakistan, and we are deeply touched by the outpouring of brotherly affection of the Pakistani people. In the words of one Pakistani friend, such friendship is “higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the Indian Ocean and sweeter than honey”.

Pakistan has a long history. Here, the ancient Indus Valley civilization and Buddhism blossomed, and the Islamic civilization is thriving today, leaving rich cultural heritage. Pakistan is also a young country. Born after World War II, Pakistan, overcoming obstacles and difficulties on the road of advance, has made remarkable achievements in its 59 years of independence.

In the new century, under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf, the people of Pakistan have faced up to many complex and difficult challenges, both internally and externally, and made continued progress in national development. Pakistan’s economy has grown at an average rate of 7.5% in the past three years, ranking Pakistan as one of the countries with the fastest economic growth in the world. After the massive earthquake last year, Pakistan has made good progress in rebuilding the homeland. Internationally, Pakistan is actively involved in regional and international affairs and is committed to upholding peace and stability in Asia. Its international standing is rising steadily, both in Asia and beyond.

We in China are heartened by the achievement made by the brotherly Pakistani people. We wish you even greater progress in the noble cause of national development and rejuvenation!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

The friendship and contacts between our peoples have a time-honored history. In the old days, they were linked by the Silk Road. In China’s Tang dynasty, Hsuan-tsang, an eminent Chinese monk, studied Buddhism in Taxila on his pilgrimage to the west. His sojourn in Pakistan, recounted in a book entitled The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions, is a popular anecdote in the history of exchanges between the Chinese and Pakistani peoples.

Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize New China. Ever since our diplomatic relations began in 1951, we have enjoyed mutual understanding, respect, trust and support, and our friendship and cooperation have flourished. We are truly good neighbors, close friends, trusted partners and dear brothers.

When China was in difficulty caused by Western blockade in the 1950s and 60s, it was Pakistan which opened an air corridor linking China to the outside world. In the early 1970s, it was Pakistan which served as a bridge for the normalization of China-US relations. On issues affecting China’s core interests – Taiwan, Tibet, human rights, and the fight against “East Turkestan” terrorist forces – it is Pakistan that has over the years extended valuable support to China. These are something we in China will never forget. On our part, the Chinese Government and people have always sided with Pakistan in its struggle to uphold sovereignty and independence and promote economic and social development.

History has witnessed the dynamic growth of China-Pakistan friendship. The Karakoram Highway, the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant and the Gwadar Port, jointly built by China and Pakistan, stand testimony to the great friendship our peoples have forged. We take great pride in the unshakable friendship between China and Pakistan.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

Working in partnership for a bright future: this is a mission entrusted upon us by history. It is the calling of the times. The Chinese Government and people treasure their relationship with Pakistan and are committed to promoting cooperation with Pakistan in various fields and strengthening China-Pakistan strategic partnership. To this end, I propose that we take the following steps:

First, deepen strategic cooperation and consolidate traditional friendship. China and Pakistan enjoy a time-tested all-weather friendship. This is our shared asset and it should be cherished and continuously enhanced. In 2003, we signed the Joint Declaration on Directions of Bilateral Cooperation, which was followed by the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good-neighborly Relations last year. This has brought our strategic partnership to a new stage. We should build on this momentum and enhance our cooperation in all areas to further strengthen our strategic partnership. China views its relations with Pakistan in strategic terms and from a long-term perspective. We will maintain close contacts between our leaders, expand exchanges and cooperation between the governments, legislatures, political parties and civic organizations of our countries, and maintain regular consultation and coordination on major issues of mutual concern through bilateral mechanisms in strategic, economic, technological, security and defense fields.

Second, expand win-win business ties. With a market of combined population of close to 1.5 billion and economic complementarity, China and Pakistan enjoy huge potential for cooperation. In recent years, China-Pakistan business ties have seen strong growth, becoming an important driving force of our relations. The Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan signed this morning marks the success in the negotiations on establishing a free trade area. It will go a long way in upgrading China-Pakistan business ties. The two countries also signed the Five Year Development Program on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a blueprint for accelerating their economic cooperation and trade in the future. The Chinese Government encourages leading Chinese companies to take Pakistan as a priority destination of investment and support them in undertaking construction projects, opening factories and conducting research and development in Pakistan. China will strengthen win-win cooperation with Pakistan in key areas such as energy and resources development, information technology, infrastructure and agriculture to give full play to our comparative strength.

Third, expand cultural and social exchanges and strengthen the basis of friendship. We are glad that the Confucius Institute has been set up in Pakistan and the two countries have officially exchanged notes on setting up the China-Pakistan Friendship Center. We hope that these two projects will serve as a new platform for cultural exchanges between our countries. To ensure that our friendly relations will be carried on by the next generation, the Chinese Government invites 500 young people from Pakistan to visit China in the next five years and will provide more scholarships to Pakistani students. The Chinese Government supports increased exchanges and cooperation with Pakistan in the areas of culture, health, education, tourism, sports and press and between academic institutions. We also support expanding air and land links and enhancing sister-city ties to strengthen the popular basis of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. 

Fourth, strengthen cooperation in international affairs and uphold common interests. Both being developing countries, China and Pakistan share extensive common interests in international and regional affairs and have a good tradition of cooperation. To China, Pakistan is an important partner of cooperation in the international arena. China will continue to work with Pakistan to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the collective interests of the developing countries and promote democracy in international relations. As a true friend of Pakistan, China hopes that Pakistan will play a greater role in regional and international affairs and will strengthen coordination and cooperation with Pakistan in the ASEAN Regional Forum, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Asia Cooperation Dialogue, Asia-Europe Meeting and other regional organizations.

Fifth, promote exchanges among civilizations to enhance world harmony. A harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity serves the interests of the world people. Different social systems and cultural background have never stood in the way of friendly relations between China and Pakistan. As a matter of fact, China-Pakistan relations have become an example of harmonious coexistence between countries of different civilizations.  China highly appreciates the “enlightened moderation” championed by President Musharraf, viewing it as an important proposition for promoting harmony among countries of different civilizations. In our view, the world is a colorful and diversified one. Differences in culture, tradition, social system, value and mode of development should be recognized. These differences reflect the vitality of the world and serve to promote its dynamic growth. One should not make irresponsible remarks about the internal affairs of other countries simply because of differences among countries. And it is equally wrong to blame a particular civilization, nation or religion for some problems and conflicts in the world. China will work with Pakistan to promote harmony and progress among civilizations and uphold diversity in the world and in development models in an unremitting effort to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

China has an ancient civilization of more than 5,000 years. In the long course of history, the Chinese people, who are hard-working, innovative and courageous, have advanced China’s social development and progress and created the splendid Chinese culture. This is an important contribution to human civilization. Since the adoption of the policy of reform and opening up in 1978, the Chinese people, guided by the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of “Three Represents”, have succeeded in embarking upon a path of development suited to China’s conditions. They have worked hard to build socialism with Chinese features and ushered in a new era of development for China. In the past 28 years, China has steadily increased productivity and national strength and improved people’s life. From 1978 to 2005, China’s GDP grew from US$ 147.3 billion to US$ 2.235 trillion, and its total volume of export and import grew from US$ 20.6 billion to US$ 1.4219 trillion. Its poor rural population dropped from 250 million to just over 23 million. The Chinese people have generally achieved moderate prosperity.

      On the other hand, we are keenly aware that even with its remarkable achievements, China remains a country with a big population, weak economic foundation and uneven regional development. Its development is not yet cost-effective and its per capita GDP still ranks lower than 100 countries. China is still the largest developing country facing many acute problems and challenges in its development endeavor. We need to make protracted and strenuous efforts before we can reach the level of medium developed countries. 

China has set for itself the goal of development for the first 20 years of this century, that is, to build in an all-round way a moderately prosperous society at a higher level to the benefit of its more than one billion population, to quadruple its 2000 GDP by 2020, bringing it to US$4 trillion, or US$3,000 in per capita terms, and to achieve greater progress in economic development, democracy, science and education, culture and social harmony and make life better for its people. We will, guided by the scientific outlook on development that is people-oriented and focuses on comprehensive, well-coordinated and sustainable development, work unswervingly to speed up economic development, deepen reform and open wider to the outside world. We will work with perseverance to increase China’s overall national strength, raise people’s living standard and improve social harmony to meet China’s goal of development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

“Loving people and treating neighbors kindly is critical to a country’s survival.” This philosophical tenet is deep-rooted in the Chinese culture. Having suffered from foreign aggressions, internal turmoil and wars that ravaged China for a century in the modern history, the Chinese people love peace and cherish the value of peace. What they have gone through and the experience and lessons in development of other countries make them clearly aware of one thing: Every nation should realize its development goal through peaceful means. Only development thus achieved will sustain and promote the progress of both its own people and people of other countries. China will remain a champion of peace, development and cooperation and continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace. It is committed to peaceful development and an opening-up strategy for win-win progress. It endeavors to develop itself by carrying out wide-ranging and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries and will contribute more to world peace and common development through its own development. China’s development is peaceful, open and cooperative in nature. It will not pose threat to anyone. Quite on the contrary, China’s development will create more opportunities for world development. China will always be a staunch force for enhancing world peace and common development and building a harmonious world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

China and Pakistan are great nations and close neighbors bound together by common destiny and goals. In the new century, let us seize the opportunity, take up challenges and carry on traditional friendship and deepen all-round cooperation. Let us work unremittingly to strengthen China-Pakistan strategic partnership and build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

May China and Pakistan enjoy eternal friendship!

Thank you all!