On May 23, 2013 local time, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council at invitation delivered a speech entitled Making New Progress in Growing China-Pakistan All-Weather Friendship at the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, speaking positively of the China-Pakistan traditional friendship and looking into the bright future of strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Li Keqiang expressed that Pakistan is a great country with a time-honored history and a brilliant culture. Since the founding of Pakistan over 60 years ago, the Pakistani government and people have successfully met grave challenges and made remarkable achievements in national development and renewal. Pakistan has taken an active part in the regional cooperation process of South Asia, contributing greatly to regional and international security. China sincerely hopes that the brotherly Pakistani people will make even greater progress in their development endeavors and that Pakistan will play an important and constructive role in regional and international affairs.
Li Keqiang said that China-Pakistan friendly exchanges are rooted in history and the all-weather friendship and all-round cooperation between the two countries have stood the test of the changing global environment. China and Pakistan treat each other with sincerity, respect each other and enjoy a high degree of mutual trust; China and Pakistan support each other, cooperate for mutual benefit and have always stood firmly on each other's side on issues concerning each other's core interests; China and Pakistan have forged close friendship that is based on popular support and has been tested by times of difficulty and forged by mutual trust. The experience gained in growing China-Pakistan relations is an invaluable asset for both countries and should be carried into the future.
Li Keqiang stressed that peace, development and cooperation are the underlying trend of our times, and Asia has increasingly become one of the most dynamic regions in the world and the focus of international attention. Profound traditional friendship has laid a solid foundation for further growing our friendly relations; and rapid changes in the world today call for lifting China-Pakistan comprehensive strategic cooperation to a higher level. On the other hand, the world is undergoing profound and complex changes. Our two countries need to develop closer relationship and enhance cooperation to jointly meet international uncertainties and challenges in Asia. The both sides should deepen China-Pakistan comprehensive strategic cooperation, boost pragmatic cooperation in all areas and develop a long-term plan for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, so as to strengthen the connectivity between South Asia and East Asia, promote economic development and livelihood improvement in the neighborhood and provide an exemplary model for cooperation between regional countries. China and Pakistan should expand people-to-people exchanges and increase coordination in regional and international affairs. As the closest friend and brother of Pakistan, China will render support and assistance as our ability permits.
Li Keqiang at last said that China-Pakistan friendship, nurtured by our two peoples and fostered by succeeding generations of Chinese and Pakistani leaders, has stood the test of hardships and it is more precious than gold. We should continue to forge ahead in both good and difficult times and work together to make new progress in growing China-Pakistan all-weather friendship.
Present at the event were Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Chairman of the Senate, Fehmida Mirza, Speaker of the National Assembly, and members of the Senate, as well as senior officials from the government and the military of Pakistan. Rounds of enthusiastic applauses broke out from the audience throughout Li Keqiang's wonderful speech.
After the speech, Bokhari, Aitzaz Ahsan, the leader of the House, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Pakistan, delivered addresses. They noted that Premier Li Keqiang's speech is inspiring and encouraging. Pakistan-China friendship has stood the test of time with broad prospects. The Pakistani side is willing to comprehensively deepen Pakistan-China strategic cooperation to safeguard the common interest of the two countries as well as regional peace, stability and prosperity.