ISLAMABAD: A complete consensus exists among political leadership of the country to maintain cordial relations with China, former state minister for foreign affairs, Inamul Haq said on Friday.

Addressing a seminar titled, “Regional Development and Sino- Pak Relations,” here at Sir Syed Memorial Society, he said Chinese investments and projects in the country amounted to US$ 25 billion which were multiplying with each passing day.

“I believe that the US will not leave Afghanistan which is a center from where they can watch China, Pakistan, Iran and other important regional players.Afghanistan is home to billions of gold and copper reserves while same is the case with Pakistan which has untapped reserves of gold, copper, oil and gas worth billions of dollars,” he added.

Prof. Zhong Rong highlighted the Chinese government's efforts to ensure economic development in Xinjiang province. He said China was going to invest billions of Yuan in Xinjiang to raise the GDP ratio and per capita income of the people of Xinjiang Province.

He said Kashghar would become an economic hub and regional cooperation after the central government had announced tax-holiday in Kashghar.

Former Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokar said Sino-Pak friendship was like a rock and enduring and that was the reason that attempts were being made to undermine this exceptional relationship.

Khokhar said the Kashghar incident was tragic but the way some western and Indian media outlets had published reports about the incident from unnamed Chinese source was odd despite the fact that the Chinese officials had contradicted these reports.