ISLAMABAD: Pakistan abides by the one-China principle as the country always chooses to stand on the right side of history, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said during a recent interview with Chinese media.
Tuesday marks the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. Recalling the rapport between the previous generations’ leaders of the two countries, Zardari said: “My late father-in-law, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto told the nation to look east, to look towards China.”
Zardari, who had visited China nine times during his first term as Pakistani president, said Pakistani people love China as “there is no conditionality between us.”
In the interview, the first one with foreign media after being re-elected as Pakistan’s president for the second time in March, Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s stance of upholding one-China principle, rejecting any form of “Taiwan-independence.”
“Taiwan is part of China. There’s no other way,” the president said, adding that Pakistan will always stand with China and safeguard China’s core interests.
Commenting on the development of Gwadar Port, a starting point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Zardari said many things have been done in Gwadar port since the launch of the CPEC 11 years ago, noting that the port will always welcome investors from all over the world.
Zardari said Pakistan is encouraging more schools to adopt the Chinese language into their compulsory curriculum. Emphasizing the importance of strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, he called for more policies to facilitate the movement of people between the two countries.
Speaking highly of the development achievements made by the Chinese people, Zardari said that ensuring the continuation of policies is one of the key reasons behind China’s success, adding that Pakistan hopes to be more involved in China’s development process.
“Long live Pakistan-China friendship!” Zardari said in Chinese while concluding the interview.
China lauds Zardari’s ‘One-China’ remark
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement reiterating Pakistan’s firm adherence to the One-China principle and its opposition to Taiwan’s independence, was highly appreciate, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday.
Addressing his regular briefing, the spokesperson said that President Zardari recently reiterated on behalf of Pakistan its firm adherence to the One-China principle.
The firm opposition to “Taiwan independence” not only shows firm support for China’s just position, but also echoes the common aspiration of countries upholding fairness and justice in the world, fully demonstrating that adhering to the One-China principle is the trend of the times and the will of the people of the international community, he added.
Wenbin said China highly appreciated the remarks by President Zardari. He said that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and “iron” friends.
China and Pakistan will continue to give each other firm support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns and work together to build a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future, he added.
It may be mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari made it clear in an interview that Pakistan will firmly adhere to the One-China principle, stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.
The president reiterated that Pakistan firmly adhered to the One-China principle as the country always chooses to stand on the right side of history.
“Pakistani people loved China as “there is no conditionality between us,” the president remarked in an interview with the Chinese media, published on Wednesday, marking the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.
