Pak-China cooperation has paramount importance: Khar

Pakistan has said that role of China in the economic uplift of region was of paramount importance, and any danger to China was equal to that of Pakistan.Addressing a joint press conference at the Foreign Office on Tuesday alongwith the visiting Chinese foreign minister, Pakistan’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar termed the relationship with China as trust surplus, which Pakistan considered as quite important and imperative.She cited 8 official visits of President Zardari, intended to relay a clear message, as to how important was Pakistan-China relationship, and stressed the importance of Pakistan-China strategic friendship for regional peace and harmony.She said that Pakistan was specifically interested in joint ventures and cooperation in fields of agriculture, energy, and basic structures.She also cited the fact that Pakistan and China were two countries to initiate Free Trade Agreement; adding that Pakistan trade volume to China had registered a 100% increase during past four years, totaling to $.2.3 billion.Expressing her great pride in globally exemplary relations between two nations, she said that China had always assisted Pakistan in natural calamities.On the occasion, she also expressed Pakistan’s fervent desire for Chinese assistance for permanent membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), while also thanking Chinese assistance for Pakistan’s non-permanent seat of UNO.She also expressed that both countries would cooperate in issues related to anti-terrorism, and defense –related issues.Speaking on the issue, the Chinese foreign minister ensured that China did want to enhance its strategic friendship partnership with Pakistan, as this was his prime agenda.He said that both countries had striking similarities of thought, and lauded relationship spanning over a period of 6 decades.He also extended an invitation to Pakistani foreign minister to visit China, which she gladly accepted.