SPEECH BY H.E. MR. ZHANG CHUNXIANG
CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN
PAKISTAN ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF COLLEGE
MAY 2ND, 2005
Lahore
Honorable Lt-General(R) Javed Hasan,
Principal of the Pakistan Administration Staff College,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My dear friends,
First of all, I would like to thank Pakistan Administrative Staff College (PASC) for kindly inviting me to speak here at the 82nd National Management Course. As a very prestigious educational institution in Pakistan, a cradle for the future leadership, PASC has cultivated many elite talents for the construction and development of Pakistan. It is indeed a special honor for me to speak to my fellow fiends on such a renowned occasion. The historical responsibility to push forward Pakistan towards prosperity and strength is shouldered by my fellow friends here today. As the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, I am willing to utilize this opportunity to share with you basic information on China's development and the prospects of Pak-China relations in the new era.
The Chinese nation has an ancient civilization that dates back to 5,000 years ago. The Chinese nation has made indelible contribution to the progress of human society, created wonders of the world and experienced very grand times. Nonetheless, after the 16th century, China was gradually left behind in the tides of rapid development of world economy, science and technology and culture. After the Opium War in the 19th century, as the corrupted feudal rules and invasion by foreign powers intensified, China was reduced into a semi-colonial, semi-feudal country, and suffered humiliation for nearly one century. It is not until 1949 that an earth-shaking change took place in China when the People' Republic of China was founded under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. The country therefore embarked on a path of socialism. The founding of the People's Republic of China fundamentally changed the fate of the Chinese people and had brought major changed to the World at large. It should be regarded as one of the major events in the 20th century.
Before elaborating on China's development, I would like to say a few words about the reform that has taken place in China first.
In 1978, under the leadership of the late Mr. Deng Xiaoping, China set to the great course of reform and opening-up and built socialism with Chinese characteristics. After 27 years since the policy of reform and opening-up was adopted, China has witnessed the most profound transformation in its history. Having maintained a rapid average growth of 9.4 percent per year in the last 26 consecutive years, China's GDP has grown more than four times and added up to 1.6494 trillion US dollars. The import and export value jumped from $20.6 billion to $1.1548 trillion with an average growth rate at 16 percent, ranking third in the world. The foreign reserve skyrocketed from the meager $167 million to the current colossal $470 billion. The rural poor population has been reduced from 250 million to 26 million. The motorway mileage has soared from zero (as 27 years ago) to over 30,000 kilometers. The Internet subscribers in China totaled 87 million and cellphone users exceeded 300 million. In 2004, China's per capita GDP has surpassed $1,000. Its people has accomplished a historic leap from having only adequate food and clothing to leading a well-off life.
Today, China is renowned as a "manufacturing center of the world". Out of every two cameras, three televisions and air-conditioners, four washing machines and five refrigerators, one must be manufactured in China. Products with a mark of "Made in China" have reached into billions of families all-over the world. China's progress is real, visible and tangible. It is not only changing the everyday life of the Chinese people, but also has an increasingly impact on the world as a whole.
It is an emerging fashion for many Chinese to go aboard and see the world. Last year, the number of people going aboard exceeded 20 million person-times, making China top the list in Asia. The Chinese are experiencing a substantive change in their daily life.
Economic progress has also induced great changes in people's lives in both urban and rural areas. If you have ever traveled to Shanghai, Beijing or other cities, you must have been marveled at how modern those cosmopolitans are.
It is our goal to raise the national GDP up to about $4 trillion and GDP per capita income to $3,000 during the next 15 years. We are convinced that a China with more economic prosperity, constantly-perfecting democracy, advanced science, technology and education, flourished culture, harmonious society as well as wealthy people, is bound to make greater contribution to the development of Asia and the whole world.
Ladies, Gentlemen and my Friends,
China's rapid development has not only improved the life of 1.3 billion Chinese people, but also created important opportunities for expanding its cooperation with all countries in the world in general and neighboring countries in particular. As the old saying goes, "It is a treasure for a country to be benevolent to its people and friendly to its neighbors." China will adhere to its neighboring diplomacy of "building good-neighborly relationships and partnerships" and policy of "building an amicable, tranquil and prosperous neighborhood", and work together with neighbors toward common prosperity.
As another Chinese saying goes, "a relative afar is not as useful as a neighbor". China borders on South Asia. South Asia is a region of great importance in Asia and the world due to its huge population, vast expanse, abundant resources and tremendous potential for development. Therefore, the Chinese Government is ready to uphold the policy to enhance good-neighborly friendship with all South Asian countries and deepen cooperation of mutual benefit. China and South Asia have a combined population of 2.7 billion, accounting for 43 percent of the world total. The volume of China's trade with South Asia, however, is no more than $20 billion. So there are huge untapped potentiality for cooperation and vast vista for development. China greatly values the relations with neighboring countries including South Asia, which serves the interest of China and South Asia as well.
Next, I would like to talk about Pak-China relations.
This year marks the 54th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. For more than half a century, Pak-China relations have withstood the historical test of the vicissitudes of the world. As far as China's external relations are concerned, only the relations with Pakistan are called "all-weather friendship", which is so unique as to be the best and most vivid description of the relations of mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support between China and Pakistan. As a diplomat having worked and lived in Pakistan for more than 20 years and from the personal involvement in the construction of the Karakorum Highway in the 1970s, I have experienced in person the development process of relations between the two countries and is able to understand its deeply. Pak-China relations are based on morality, justice, equality and mutual benefit. The two countries understand and support each other on all important issues and have kept close cooperation, which shows the friendship in adversity and we are quite proud of it.
Over the past 54 years, the bilateral trade expands continually and enters into a leaping growth period since 2000. Last year, bilateral trade surpasses 3 billion US dollars, making a historical record. Bilateral cooperation of commercial trade has expanded, covering industry, energy, water and power, nuclear power, road, bridge, harbor and other infrastructure construction. Karakorum Highway built in the 1960-1970s becomes the bond of friendship between the people of the two countries. Today, Gwadar Port, Chashma Nuclear Power Plant and some other mega cooperative projects have again linked the interests of the two countries together closely.
China and Pakistan enjoy a relationship characterized by high political trust and all dimension cooperation. As a close and friendly neighbor, China is willing to contribute to the economic prosperity of Pakistan, and ready to have Pakistan grasp the opportunity of China's reform and opening up and share the fruitful results of China's economic development.
In early April, H.E. Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of China, visited Pakistan. The two sides signed the "Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation", which is the first treaty codified in law form between China and South Asian nations and represents a landmark for the future development of Pak-China relations.
The two sides also signed nearly 20 documents, covering bilateral cooperation of economic and trade, agriculture, science and technology, education, etc. the two sides agree to start negotiations of Pak-China Free Trade Area and have signed an agreement of "Early Harvest", the first one of this kind that China had with South Asian countries. It fully demonstrates the sincerity and determination of China to push forward the economic development of Pakistan and to expand the bilateral trade cooperation. It is believed that, in the near future, there will be more Pakistani mangoes, oranges, rice and other agricultural products entering China's markets and being put on the dining tables of the Chinese people. I hope that under the joint efforts from both sides, China-Pakistan economic cooperation will march forward in fast pace.
The two sides decided to establish "Pak-China Friendship Center" and laid the foundation stone. Hopefully it is going to be a new platform for the cultural and academic exchanges of the two countries.
Youth is the future of the nation. Last September, the two countries launched the youth exchange mechanism and sent 100 youth representatives to visit the other country, which enhances the mutual understanding and friendship of the two countries. I hope that the two sides will continue the program and bring up more successors of the Pak-China friendship career.
Language is the bridge of civil interchanges. It is the consensus of the two sides to enhance cooperation of education. The Pakistani side will select more top students to study in China and China will establish Confucius Academy in Pakistan to promulgate Chinese language. I studied my Urdu language in China and I hope that in the near future there will be more Pakistani friends who can easily use Chinese and become "Chinese Generalists".
The potentiality of tourism cooperation of the two countries is huge. Xinjiang Province of China is bordering the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Both sides have rich tourist resources to be cultivated. China has put Pakistan on the list of tourist destination countries for Chinese travelers. I hope that tourism cooperation and expansion of civil interchanges can push forward the development of Pakistan's tourism industry.
Ladies and gentlemen,
China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. Establishing long and stable Pak-China strategic partnership accords with the common interests of the two nations and is beneficial for promoting peace and prosperity of South Asian region. At this historical juncture, Pak-China relations are facing with opportunity for new development and more efforts are required on the part of both governments and the two peoples. We are ready to welcome more Pakistani friends to visit China and have a look. I hope that the friends present here today will tell what you see, what you hear and how do you feel during your forthcoming visit to China to your friends in Pakistan, letting more people know China and endeavoring to deepen Pak-China friendship.
Wish a common prosperity for China and Pakistan!
Thank you all!