By NNN-APP,
Beijing : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced the establishment of Pakistan, China Friendship Group soon in parliament to enhance exchange of parliamentary delegations, and further boost their economic partnership.
It will help promoting people-to-people contact, particularly at the youth level through elected representatives. He made the announcement while addressing students of Urdu Department of three major universities in Beijing before returning home on Saturday.
The universities are: Peking University, Tsingua University and Foreign Studies University of China. The students met the Prime Minister at State Guest House under the leadership of Tang MingSheng, Director of Centre for Pakistan Studies.
Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto, Asifa Bhutto, Rehman Malik and Secretary General PPP Jahangir Badar were also present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Gilani also announced a grant of Rs 100 million for the construction of Culture Centre in Beijing with the objective to promote common culture, and to bring the people of two countries further closer to each other.
Prime Minister Gilani said that he would like to lay the foundation stone of the Centre during his next visit, expected to take place in Octuber this year.
Referring to his personal attachment with the Chinese leadership, Prime Minister Gilani said that he had the privilege to perform as Minister-in-waiting when former Premier Li peng visited Pakistan during tenure of the government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
He said that China is a beautiful country and a source of attraction to lure lot of tourists from across the world.
Gilani said that Sino-Pak relationship is growing with faster pace in all dimensions, and hoped that it would also serve the fundamental interests of the people of both countries.
He appreciated the Chinese students for taking keen interest in learning Urdu language, and hoped that they would be a big source of strength for cementing bonds of bilateral friendship from generation to generation.
The Prime Minister had a frank and candid discussion with students, and sought their proposals for the promotion of the common interest in having maximum internation and understanding among the youth of the two countries.
He assured them that present government attached top priority to boost further relations with China.
Reiterating the deepening Sino-Pak relationship at people to people level, the prime minister further said that he saw greater love and affection of the Chinese people when thousands of spectators gave thunderous applause, and big welcome when Pakistani contingent marched at the Bird Nest stadium at the opening of the 29th Olympiad on Friday evening.
Bilawal Bhutto in his brief remarks on the occasion said it is his great honour and privilege to have first ever visit to China, and he also having the first official appearance at any international event. He said, he was highly impressed by the dyanamic and faster growing chinese economy and other unprecedented achivements of China improving socio-economic life of their people.
He noted that China was playing a leading role in international sphere.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that Pakistani atheletes would perform well in the Beijing olympics. Wishing them all the best, he said Pakistan enjoys high reputation in various sports.
He said, winning the sport event is not one of the objectives while participating in the olympics. It was also to have strong presence, and better interaction with the other particpating athletes of the world.