SPY EYES

Beijing: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday emphasized on enhanced collaboration between educational institutions of Pakistan and China. He also called for exchanges of students and researchers to further strengthen their bilateral ties.

“Students exchanges, joint research projects and more multi-disciplined research would be extremely useful to providing fresh ideas and the necessary intellectual content for taking our friendship and partnership to new heights”, Gilani said in his address at Peking University. The Prime Minister said successive generations of leaders in Pakistan and China have always given their utmost attention to holding high the banner of Pakistan-China friendship.

He said the foundations of this special and unique relationship were laid by the founder of the Pakistan People’s Party, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, together with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai.

“On this occasion, we pay tribute to the architects of Pakistan-China friendship and to all those who contributed to the flourishing of this beautiful friendship and partnership,” he added.

The Prime Minister, however, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the shining torch of this most prized relationship is carried on from generation to generation and said “I believe that the scholars, researchers and students of our two countries have a special role to play in this regard.”

Gilani said Pak-China all-weather friendship and strategic cooperative partnership has withstood the vicissitude of time and the changes in the international and regional situation.

“We have stood by each other at all times and under all circumstances,” he added.

The Prime Minister described Peking University as “one of the oldest and finest in the world” and said Pakistan values the contribution that this University has made towards promoting China-Pakistan friendship.

“Graduates from the Urdu Department of this University are a real asset.

I had the privilege of meeting some of those young men and women, who are serving in various capacities in Pakistan and speak Urdu fluently,” he added.

Gilani referred to Pakistan Study Centre at the Peking University and complimented Professor Tang Mengsheng, Director of the Centre for his personal interest and solid contribution to promoting greater contacts and collaboration between Pakistan and China.

“My visit to this University is also to express our thanks to all of you for the contribution that you continue to make to strengthen China-Pakistan friendship,” he said and mentioned the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He said special events are being organized both in Pakistan and China throughout this year, which the two sides have declared as the Friendship Year.

“The friendship theme runs through the discourse in Pakistan-China relations in all domains. From the leadership level to the ordinary people, this is the common theme.

It is due to the spontaneous affinity, love and affection that our two peoples have for each other. It is the abiding theme that transcends all constructs that exist to define inter-state relations. In short, it is like being one people and two countries.”

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the unstinted support and solidarity shown by the people and Government of China towards Pakistan and said during the 2005 earthquake and unprecedented floods last year “our Chinese friends came forward to assist their Pakistani brothers and sisters with true sentiments of solidarity and humanity.”

He was also appreciative of China for extending its full support to Pakistan in its own national efforts to safeguard our sovereignty and our core national interests.

“For its part, Pakistan has always strongly supported China.

We believe in the One-China policy and firmly support China’s principled stand on Tibet and Taiwan. We have also contributed effectively to the fight against the “Three Evils”, particularly efforts to defeat the ETIM terrorists,” he added.

Gilani said Pakistan and China have robust all-dimensional cooperative relations, adding, “We seek to build further on these cooperative ties to ensure our respective countries stability, peace and prosperity.”

The Prime Minister said he would like to encourage the faculty and students of Peking University to give special attention to broadening collaboration with Pakistani universities and academia.

“We need to also give thought to how best we can utilize the valuable research that is taking place in both our countries to be shared for mutual benefit.

“Periodic exchange of professors and scholars as well as students; the study of Chinese and Urdu languages; seminars and workshops; exchange of specialists in various disciplines would certainly contribute to expanding the horizons of our cooperation,” he added.

The Prime Minister said Peking University is famous for its strength in Humanities and Social Sciences, with its Business School rated as among the best in the world, it would indeed be extremely useful if the Business School could run special projects and programmes, with a view to identifying new areas of mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and Pakistan in the fields of economy and trade.

“It would also be extremely useful if studies are commissioned under the Ph.D. programmes to not only research the contemporary history but also to rediscover the roots of our civilizational interactions spanning several millenniums. Such research will give deeper meaning and reveal the true essence of the abiding friendship between our two proud and courageous peoples,” he added.

“We should do this with a view to rediscovering our collective rich cultural heritage, which our two countries not only prize but are also determined to enrich further for all times to come”, Gilani stressed.

The Prime Minister said youth comprise the largest segment of society in China and Pakistan, the story of China’s success in space missions, high speed trains, emerging entrepreneurial class and excellence in sports, is being written by talented Chinese youth.

“Young men and women in Pakistan are inspired by these achievements,” he said noted that some 6000 Pakistani students are undertaking higher studies in China. “We will continue to encourage this trend,” he added.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the China Radio International for running excellent programmes in its Urdu service and said more and more Urdu speaking graduates of the Peking University are choosing to work in Pakistan for Chinese companies and media.

“We deeply appreciate their contribution,” he added.

The Prime Minister hailed the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China on its campus and said “This indeed demonstrates our shared resolve to utilize the talent of young men and women for taking our friendship to ever greater heights.”

Later, the Prime Minister responded to the queries of students and faculty members.