Mr. Yao Wen speech on the book launch

Following is the text of address made by Mr. Yao Wen, Chargé d’ Affaires, Embassy of People’s Republic of China, on the occasion of Ambassador (r) Muhammad Yunus’s book launching ceremony held at IPS on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.

Following is the text of address made by Mr. Yao Wen, Chargé d’ Affaires, Embassy of People’s Republic of China, on the occasion of Ambassador (r) Muhammad Yunus’s book launching ceremony held at IPS on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.

It is my honor to be invited to attend the launching ceremony of the new book entitled “Awakened China Shakes the World and Is Now Pakistan’s Mainstay”. I also feel glad to see Amb. Hashemi and other distinguished guests present here today. I also want to thank Mr. Khalid Rahman for your good arrangements for today’s event. The new book is a true reflection not only of the personal experience of Ambassador Yunus as a Pakistani diplomat to China for three times, but also the remarkable development of China in the past 60 years. Congratulations on the publication of such wonderful book! The efforts of Ambassador Yunus to promote China-Pakistan relations are highly appreciated.

In the book, Ambassador Yunus recalled that during his first assignment in China in 1953, there was no bridge or ferry across the Yangzi River. Pakistani diplomats were taken by a car to the water’s edge and their belongings were loaded on a flat barge that was pushed by long wooden poles across the river. However, things have changed dramatically since then. Nowadays, we have 85 bridges over the Yangzi River. People can be taken by the car across the river easily.

In 1953, from Hankou to Beijing, the train took a day and a half. But now, it only takes 5 hours from Hankou to Beijing by high-speed train. I am sure in your next trip to China, you can definitely feel China’s quick speed of development.

Over the last 35 years, China also gets the world amazed and takes the lead in many fields. The Gross Domestic Product of China has jumped from a mere 50 billion dollars in 1978 to 9.3 trillion US dollars in 2013, making China the world’s second largest economy. China’s contribution to world economic growth now stands at 30%. China’s total imports and exports reached 4.16 trillion dollars last year, ranking first in the world. China’s high-speed railway operation mileage is over 12,000 kilometers, almost half of the world’s total. These figures could be a window to understand China’s progress. We have set big goals for the future, that is to double the GDP per capita in 2020. We call it the Chinese Dream which means the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Why could China make such achievement? The fundamental reason is that we have successfully found the right way of development. We call it the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics and it is suitable to our national conditions. We have properly handled the relations between reform, development and stability. Reform is the driving force and guarantee of social development and progress. Development is the ultimate goal. Stability is the pre-condition. Without it, nothing will be possibly achieved.

We want all the Chinese people to live a better life and all the children to grow up with great happiness. We are resolved to continue to follow this road. We will stick to peaceful, cooperative and common development. We will achieve win-win results on the basis of equality and mutual benefits with other countries of the world.

In recent years, China-Pakistan relationship has maintained strong momentum of development. Chinese netizens refer to Pakistan by the endearing name of “Iron Pak”. In the heart of the Chinese people, Pakistan has always been regarded as a “hardcore” friend. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Pakistan relationship has been carefully cultivated by generations of our leaders for the past 60 years. The relationship has become a model for the state-to-state relations. I’m delighted to see that China-Pakistan relationship is now in the best period in history. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners. We always put China-Pakistan relationship as the top priority in our diplomacy. We are working so hard with our Pakistani friends to build the China-Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny in the new era.

I think the China-Pakistan relations have the following four main features: First, we enjoy high-level mutual political trust. China and Pakistan always support each other on the affairs concerning the core interest. Our relationship is on the basis of mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual trust. Our friendship is close, strong and enduring. Mutual political trust is continuously consolidated.

Second, our friendship enjoys very solid public support. China-Pakistan friendship has also been deeply-rooted in the hearts and blood of our two peoples. I remember when I visit Rawal Lake Park, Pakistani brothers are delighted to ask to have photo with me. It makes me feel like I am a film star. All the Pakistani citizens men and women, rich and poor are friendly to Chinese people from the bottom of their heart.

Third, our cooperation is all-round. Leaders of our two nations have frequently exchanged visits in recent years. Political cooperation is continuously consolidated. Economic cooperation is making steady progress. China is now the second largest trading partner of Pakistan and Pakistan is the biggest destination of Chinese investment in South Asia. People-to-people exchanges are much closer and more frequent. Our cooperation concerning security interests are also extending smoothly. Forth, China and Pakistan have gone through tough together. We will never forget that in the 1970s, Pakistan served as a bridge to improve China-U.S. relations.

We will never forget that, Pakistan played the vital role in restoring China’s seat in the United Nations. We will never forget that in the wake of China’s Wenchuan earthquake, Pakistan sent all its tent stocks to China as assistance. China supports Pakistan to formulate and implement security strategy based on its own national conditions. China also supports Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and will jointly fight against terrorism for regional peace and stability.

I believe that all of you are caring about the development of China-Pakistan relationship and also the progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor builds a strategic framework for the bilateral practical cooperation and is a flagship project for the connectivity between China and its neighboring countries. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor goes well with substantive results.

Currently, we are actively promoting construction of Gwadar Port. We have started to construct RuYi-Masood Textile Industrial Park in Faisalabad and around 100,000 jobs are expected to be created. The projects of Economic Corridor cover all the four provinces and other areas Pakistan. The whole territory of Pakistan will benefit from the Corridor. I hope that together with Pakistani side, we will implement all the projects, inject new energy and impetus to China-Pakistan substantive cooperation and bring tangible benefits to Pakistani people.

As a Chinese saying goes, “a book read, a gain in your wit.” I believe the stories of this book will get the general public well informed and highly inspired. It will encourage more and more people to support and contribute to the great cause of China-Pakistan relations in the days to come. May I wish the launch of the new book big success and our friendship everlasting.