On May 23, 2013 local time, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Chairman of the Senate, and Fehmida Mirza, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, in Islamabad.
Li Keqiang first conveyed the sincere greetings from Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), and Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). He said, I choose Pakistan for my first visit abroad after taking office as the Premier and addressed the Parliament at invitation. It is to demonstrate the special friendship between China and Pakistan, the firm support of China for Pakistan, and that China and Pakistan are all-weather friends that trust and support each other, sharing weal and wore. The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the relationship with Pakistan and is willing to work with the Pakistani side to push forward China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.
Li Keqiang stressed, the Chinese side appreciates that the Senate and the National Assembly of Pakistan share a high degree of consensus on developing the relations with China and have been always the active promoters of the friendship between the two countries. There are cemented mutual trust and friendship between the Chinese and Pakistani people, and it should be treasured. The legislative bodies of the two countries, as representing the public opinions, should further enhance exchanges and cooperation to continuously cement the public opinion and social basis for China-Pakistan friendship.
Bukhari and Mirza asked Li Keqiang to convey their sincere greetings to NPC Chairman Zhang Dejiang and CPPCC Chairman Yu Zhengsheng. They welcomed Li Keqiang for his visit to Pakistan and for his address at the Pakistani Parliament. They expressed that the friendship with China is a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. The Senate and the National Assembly of Pakistan are willing to strengthen parliamentary exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side to jointly push forward the Pakistan-China relations.