ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Sunday extended his warmest felicitations to Pakistan’s long-standing ally and “all-weather friend” China on its 74th National Day.

In an official statement, PM Kakar congratulated Chinese

President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and the Chinese nation, stressing that Pakistan “takes great pride in the achievements of our Iron Brother”.

The PM termed Beijing as an anchor of peace and stability as well as the engine of development and progress in today’s world.

Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi also felicitated China on its National Day.

Balochistan CM terms Chinese economic success ‘an example for developing countries’

In a video message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he said the people of Pakistan shared the spirit of the festivities of the National Day of China.

The minister hoped that this and the coming years would reinforce Pakistan and China’s relationship and promote peace and progress for both nations and the world.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani also extended his heartiest felicitations to Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the people of China on their National Day.

In his post on X, he paid tribute to the rich history, culture and achievements of this great nation and reiterated the resolve to take China-Pakistan’s ironclad friendship to greater heights.

In an interview with The Washington Post during his visit to New York to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly session earlier this week, PM Kakar said that Pakistan was focusing on its interests without choosing sides in the great power competition, and the West was “over-obsessed” with efforts to contain China.

He told the US newspaper that Pakistan was charting a path designed to avoid getting caught up in the competition between the West, Russia and China.

He said Pakistan had no intention of committing to either camp in the growing US-China rivalry.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong, during a meeting with the Press Corps from Balochistan in Beijing last week, had said that Pakistan and China should engage in mutually beneficial cooperation to benefit all Pakistani people.

Calling Pakistan and China “ironclad friends”, the top Chinese diplomat — who served as China’s ambassador to Pakistan for three years from September 2020 to September 2023 — recalled that the two countries had always supported each other and stood together in times of difficulty.

Domki lauds China’s economic success

Meanwhile, Balochistan Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki said on Sunday that China’s economic success was an example for developing countries and stressed that the ongoing and proposed projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan would be brought to completion.

In his message on China’s National Day, Mr Domki emphasised that CPEC and strategic matters have boosted Pakistan’s eternal friendship with China.

The friendship between the two countries met several tests but only grew more robust over time, he said, insisting that Pakistani people attached special importance to relations with China.

Mr Domki said that during his visit to Gwadar, he reviewed the ongoing projects under CPEC and instructed officials to speed up work. He said the government was trying to complete CPEC projects as soon as possible for the economic development of Balochistan and Pakistan.

“The voices opposed to CPEC should know that these projects will not stop but will be completed,” he said.

He said Pakistan was the first nation to recognise the People’s Republic of China as an independent country, adding that Pakistan and China share the same position regarding international affairs, pacifism and mutual respect.

Mr Domki said that no power in the world could stop the rapid development and prosperity under CPEC.

Saleem Shahid in Quetta also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023