KARACHI: Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (R ) Maqbool Baqar welcomed the Chinese Naval Fleet at the beautiful city of Karachi Port (East Wharf) and urged Chinese personnel to visit this megalopolis city, which takes pride in its long history of old as well as modern eras protected by its seaport, old and new buildings, its cuisine and especially its people. Karachi is a beautiful blend of urban and rural, old and modern lifestyle.
This he said while speaking at a reception the Chinese Consul General Mr. Yang Yundong had hosted for the Chinese Naval Fleet on the Ship Deck at East Wharf. The reception was attended by Home Minister Brig (R ) Haris Nawaz, Vice Admiral Mouhammad Faisal, Chinese Navy Fleet Commander Mr Sun Bo and others.
The beauty of Karachi and its pleasant breeze in this open sea also welcome the fleet from China. He added that the people of Pakistan and China were already connected with mutual respect, love, and fraternity but the CPEC-related connectivity has narrowed the distance of travel, development, and cooperation altogether. “Under the CPEC and non-CPEC projects, Sindh has become home to our Chinese brothers,” he said.
The caretaker chief minister addressing Consul General of China Mr. Yang Yundong, Commander Fleet Mr. Sun Bo, and other Chinese and Pakistani friends shared his experience of his recent visit to Beijing.
“During my stay in Beijing, I visited business centers, and restaurants walked on the roads, traveled subways, buses and went shopping – I witnessed and observed through the interaction and the visits that China has surpassed all the targets set for human development, apart from development in Science and Technology,” the CM said and added that the philosophy Mr. Xi .has developed was based on sharing his human development experience with other nations through his CPEC and One-Belt-One- Road, the mega development projects ever witnessed in human history.
Justice Baqar said that the Chinese Navy’s fleet visit to Karachi-Pakistan was bound to enhance maritime collaboration between the two navies, Pakistan and China, he said and added that such visits promote peace and security in the region, enhance maritime collaboration and open new avenues of bilateral cooperation between the friendly countries.
Mr. Yang Yundong, the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi, in his speech warmly welcomed all the distinguished guests to the deck reception.
He also welcomed Admiral Liang Yang, who led the Chinese naval fleet to visit Karachi and hold a joint maritime exercise between the Chinese and Pakistani navies.
He said that, in the annual military cooperation plan, China and Pakistan navies will conduct the “Sea Guardians -3” joint exercise in the northern Arabian Sea in the following days. This is the 3rd time that the two nations have conducted such joint exercises. The Chinese Navy will coordinate closely and communicate extensively with the Pakistani Navy, ensuring the smooth conduct of various activities.
Mr. Yang said the visit of the Chinese navy flotilla is a journey of peace, a journey of cooperation, and a journey of friendship. It aims to further deepen bilateral relations and traditional friendship between China and Pakistan, and enhance realistic military training. Through continuous deepening of exchanges and cooperation, the two navies will further enhance their abilities to jointly respond to maritime security threats and maintain maritime peace. He wishes this joint exercise a complete success, Chinese envoy says
CG also added that the two sides are committed to building an “upgraded?version” of?CPEC which is growth-oriented, livelihood-enhancing, innovative, green, and inclusive.
At the same time, positive outcomes have been achieved in the security sector. Consul General said that the Global Security Initiative as well as the Global Development Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, which were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, have received positive responses in Pakistan.
Chinese CG confidently said that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.
Lastly, concluding the event, a colorful cultural and music show was performed by Chinese artists.
BY : Zahid H Karani.
