Chinese PM to visit Pakistan on Dec 17
48 viewsBy jazbablog - Mon Dec 13, 5:44 pm
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, will visit Pakistan from 17-19 December, 2010 at the invitation of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, according to Foreign Office spokesman.
China is Pakistan’s true and most reliable friend. The Government and people of Pakistan look forward to welcoming their most honoured friend, he said.
Reliable Assembly Sources informed Online that Chinese Prime Minister will specially address on the occasion while all arrangements are underway in this regard.
Sources say that a team has already flown to Pakistan to review the security as well as other preparations concerning the visit of the Chinese Prime Minister in Pakistan.
Meanwhile Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue said during a press briefing ahead of Premier Wen Jiabao’s official visit to Pakistan that China will continue to support Pakistan’s post-disaster reconstruction, especially in agriculture and transport infrastructure.
“Pakistan suffered devastating floods this year. The Chinese people sympathized with the Pakistani people and provided substantial aid as soon as it could to help in disaster relief efforts and reconstruction,” he said.
Wen will visit Pakistan from Dec. 17 to 19 at the invitation of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Wen will also meet Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit.
“We will continue to do what we can to support the Pakistani people,” said the official.
Floods in July and August hit one-fifth of Pakistan, affecting 20 million people and destroying more than 2.2 million hectares of crops and 1.7 million homes. The flooding also destroyed infrastructure.
China pledged a total of 250 million U.S. dollars to Pakistan after the floods hit the South Asian country.
“Post-disaster reconstruction is one of the major tasks for Pakistan to develop its economy,” Chinese Ministry of Commerce official Liang Wentao told the briefing.
China and Pakistan are neighbors with a traditional friendship, Liang said, adding that the two help each other in times of difficulty.
Pakistan immediately provided aid when an earthquake struck Yushu County in northwest China’s Qinghai Province in April.
Pakistani President Zardari attended a remembrance ceremony at the Chinese embassy in Pakistan on April 21, China’s national mourning day.
