China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang called for closer parliamentary exchanges with Pakistan on Thursday.
Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), made the pledge while meeting with the with Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
Zhang Dejiang(R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), holds talks with Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2015. [Photo: CE.cn/Zhu Jing]
During the meeting Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that parliamentary exchanges between China and Pakistan have helped both countries share each other's best practices and develop better mutual understanding. He apprised Zhang Dejiang about legislature in Pakistan and evinced keen interest in the Chinese legislative body's mechanism and to learn from the China's success story. Both sides expressed satisfaction over bilateral parliamentary exchanges. They discussed ways and means to keep up the momentum of bilateral relations through increasing interaction of parliamentarians as well as through promoting trade, educational, cultural and investment links.
Zhang Dejiang said that such high level contacts enhance mutual cooperation and friendship between legislatures of both the countries. He informed that following the initiation of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Pakistan has become the destination of largest investment from China. He apprised that China is now relocating industry and looked forward to Pakistan facilitating Chinese investors through enabling legislative framework to relocate their industry along the economic corridor. Zhang Dejiang expressed his condolences on the unfortunate loss of innocent school children in Peshawar terrorist incident. He also accepted Speaker's invitation to visit Pakistan.
The Speaker also briefed his counterpart about the consensus decision of the parliament authorizing military to launch operation against the terrorists, and the recent decision to establish military courts to speedily prosecute the terrorists. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the cooperation in fighting terrorist outfits. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also discussed the China, Pakistan and Afghanistan trilateral parliamentary dialogue aimed to promote regional stability and at strengthening the relationship between the three countries. He also thanked Zhang for the Chinese assistance to overcome the acute shortage of electricity through timely implementation of the power generation projects. Zhang later hosted a banquet in Speaker's honour.
Other members of the National Assembly of Pakistan who attended the meeting included Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao(MNA), Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari(MNA), Siraj Mohammad Khan(MNA),Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar (MNA), Muhammad Afzal Khan(MNA), Nasir Iqbal Bosal(MNA),Azhar Qayyum Nahra(MNA), Khalil George(MNA). Asia Naz Tanoli(MNA)
The delegation has visited Shanghai and is now in Beijing on the last leg of their weeklong tour of China, having met the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Yin Yicui on Monday in Shanghai where they also discussed prospects of Chinese investments while visiting various Chinese enterprises.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) is a committee of over 150 members of the National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), which is convened between plenary sessions of the NPC. It is led by a chairman, who is amongst China's top ranking leaders in China's political ranking system.
Earlier in the morning Speaker visited the International Economic Exchange Centre, a leading Chinese think tank on economy. He received extensive briefing on the policy frame work of Chinese economy and the vision of Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Route. He also discussed the progress made on China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The meeting took place in an increasingly cordial atmosphere where other members of parliament also shared their view points.
