BEIJING, Apr 18 (APP): Following is the text of the address of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Communist Party School on "Pakistan-China Partnership for Harmonious Relations in the 21st century"  here on Wednesday.

     Text begins:

    

"Mr. Vice President,

Distinguished faculty members and participants,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to

speak at this great institution, which has traditions rivalled by few in the world. TheCommunist Party School has inspired several generations of China's leaders and intellectuals who have helped to build your country into a global power. 

     I am particularly touched by these idyllic surroundings. The serenity and beauty of this institution reflects in many ways the innate spirit of harmony of the great Chinese civilization.

     This School has been the nursery for all those

dedicated men and women who have transformedChina. It has provided philosophic vision and inspiration that permeates the rank and file of the Communist Party of China and imparts the Party with tremendous vitality to achieve the Chinese miracle. 

     I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt

gratitude to the Chinese leadership, Government and people for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality accorded to us since our arrival. We feel completely at home and among our close friends and dear brothers.

     I have had very fruitful talks yesterday with Premier Wen Jiabao and I look forward to my meetings with other State leaders. Our discussions have advanced Pakistan-China dialogue on all issues of common interest. My visit has contributed to further fortifying our age-long and time-tested ties.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     The topic of my speech today is: " Pakistan-China Partnership for Harmonious Relations in the 21st Century." Pakistan and China are bound in a profound relationship that is unique for its depth, scope, stability and dynamism. It holds important lessons in developing harmony, trust and friendship among peoples and nations.

     The Pakistan-China partnership now spans over five decades. It has withstood the test of time and remained unshakable in the face of international vicissitudes. It is reinforced by common goals and a sense of common destiny. It is characterized by harmony, vibrancy and vitality. In essence, it is a living example of the Confucian philosophy of "Harmony without uniformity."

     Ours is a friendship rooted in the popular ethos and based on complete trust and mutual understanding which has, over the years, matured into a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and development. It is today a factor of peace and stability in Asia and beyond.

     Relations between our two peoples go back to antiquity when the fabled Silk Route served as a conduit not only for commerce but also for ideas and

knowledge. Famous Chinese scholars Xuan Zhuang and Fa Xien traversed the same route to the famous University of its day located in Taxila, just thirty miles north of our capital. Their experiences are celebrated in your popular literacy work "Journey to the West" -- which is a journey to the present dayPakistan. 

      By the opening decade of the 21st century, four generations of Pakistani and Chinese leaders and people have been friends with each other. Your great leaders - Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin - and now President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao and our leadership - have enjoyed and continue to enjoy close personal relations. This shows the resilience and deep-rooted nature of our bilateral ties.

     We have different political systems, different cultures, and different traditions. Yet, together, we have created a beautiful mosaic -- vibrant with colour and warmth. It is not an exaggeration when we say that the friendly relations between Pakistan and China are a model of relations based on principles of peaceful coexistence and among countries with diverse systems.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     The people of Pakistan draw strength from and rejoice over the great accomplishments of the Chinese nation. These accomplishments attest to the genius, wisdom, skills and talent of the Chinese people and their sagacious leadership.

     We are witnessing today a splendid renaissance, in all domains, of the ancient Chinese civilization. The Chinese economic miracle is not new in that it is merely restoring what historically over millennia had been China's share of the global production.

     China once again enjoys a position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. We believe that the Chinese civilizational resurgence will have a profoundly constructive impact on the world and, in particular, on Asia.

     China's moral voice, its economic dynamism, its entrepreneurial spirit, its innovative genius and its commitment to shaping a peaceful and prosperous world remain indispensable for ushering in a harmonious world order.

     China is a model for developing countries: A model of good neighborly relations, a model of economic and social development, and a model for realizing the vision for a better world, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. As China grows in strength, it is taking more concrete steps to help and assist the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     For Pakistan, friendship with China is the corner- stone of our foreign policy. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 1951, Pakistan-China relations have been growing from strength to strength. This unique friendship has been an indispensable factor for peace and stability in Asia and has contributed to greater amity and international understanding.

     Today, the leadership and people of our two countries are determined to take Pakistan-China relations to an even higher level.

     In November 2003, President General Pervez Musharraf and President Hu Jintao signed in Beijing the historic Declaration on Directions of Bilateral

Cooperation. This Declaration charts the trajectory of our bilateral cooperation in the 21st century and lays out a solid basis for the continuous strengthening of our friendship.

     In April 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao and I signed in Islamabad the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good Neighbourly Relations. This Treaty is indeed unique and one of its kind for Pakistan. This Treaty not only provides strong legal foundations but also delineates in solemn terms the depth and direction of our strategic partnership.

     During President Musharraf's state visit to China in February 2006 the two governments signed three separate Framework Agreements covering economy, trade, energy and defence.

     President Hu Jintao paid a landmark visit to Pakistan in November 2006, during which Pakistan and China signed the Joint Five Year Programme for trade and Economic Cooperation. We also signed the bilateral Free Trade Agreement and decided in principle to establish a Joint Investment Company.

     These agreements together form the new architecture for strengthening and deepening of our remarkable relationship. They also reflect our common

resolve to forge a robust economic and trade partnership for common development and win-win cooperation.

     The profile of our strategic economic engagement now encompasses several grand projects and would further leverage our natural economic complementarities, conferred by geography, history, shared values as well as a distinct sense of common destiny.

     We desire to further our economic relations and make them commensurate with our political relations. The two countries have pledged to triple bilateral trade in the next five years. Chinese companies are investing in Pakistan in projects ranging from mining and energy exploration to infrastructure development and manufacturing.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     Pakistan is fast transforming into an economic, energy, trade and communications hub linking the neighbouring regions of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia. We are actively promoting multi-sectoral and intra-regional cooperation between Pakistan and China. 

     Pakistan provides the shortest access to the sea for Western China. Our friendship highway over the Karakoram and road and rail networks to our deep water ports at the Arabian Sea are fast becoming a conduit for trade and energy transactions. These connect Western China as well as Central Asia to the Gulf and the Middle East. A major component in this strategy was the development of the Gwadar Port.

      It gives me great pleasure to mention that the Gwadar Port completed with the assistance of China was inaugurated on 20 March 2007. We gratefully acknowledge the critical assistance and help provided by the Government and people of China. This port, like the Karakoram Highway, is yet another illustration of the enduring Pakistan-China partnership.

     The Karakoram Highway is being upgraded. Feasibility studies are being undertaken to establish Pakistan-China rail links. We are also working to establish fiber-optic connectivity.

     We also plan to develop oil and gas pipelines and electricity grids which could satisfy our growing energy needs and become energy corridors for China and other regional countries.

     Yesterday, we agreed to launch a Joint Investment Company. This is another important milestone in our economic relations. The Company shall play the role of a catalyst in further promoting project cooperation.

     We applaud the great contribution made by Chinese corporations to the economic development of Pakistan. There are some 100 Chinese corporations based in our country and more than 3000 engineers, technicians and Chinese entrepreneurs are working on a range of projects from minerals and manufacturing to Information Technology and telecommunication.

    

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     The pattern of China's economic interaction with the developing world follows the example it has set with Pakistan. Chinese economic assistance has focused on tangible development that strengthens economic fundamentals as opposed to handouts or conditional aid that reinforce the vicious cycle of dependency. Thus, over the years, China and Pakistan have together built the edifice of a relationship on the rock solid foundation of mutual trust and common benefit.

     Pakistan and China have also worked closely at international forums to promote peace and development. International peace, security and development is a holistic concept. It calls for mutually beneficial cooperation, sustained and harmonious engagement, building commonalities and resolving differences. 

     As our bilateral relationship goes from strength to strength, the need to understand and reflect on the global strategic and political landscape becomes all the more important.

    

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     Even a cursory look will reveal that turbulence and uncertainty mars the global political landscape. There are dangerous trends and impulses motivated by hegemonies and intolerance. Many regions of the world are afflicted by civil wars and other forms of conflicts. In addition, these are the new dangers of extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence posing a grave threat to human civilization.

     Terrorism has become a truly global problem. It destabilizes societies, engenders fear, and destroys individual lives. Its pernicious effects are being felt all over the globe.

     Equally dangerous are the attempts being made to give currency and wider acceptance to the so-called clash of civilizations. The proponents of this sinister theory perhaps are seeking to promote another form of extremism that blends intolerance, certitude and millenarian beliefs. This doctrine is spreading Islam- phobia in its wake. Such trends are dangerous and must be countered effectively. 

      Compounding this general insecurity is the deviation from multilateralism. Tendency towards unilateral action justified on the basis of dangerous doctrines of pre-emption, lack of respect for other political and value systems are sharpening contradictions among different societies and countries. Attempts to impose political and economic uniformity alien to local tradition and cultural milieu disturb the social order and natural harmony of societies. More than ever before, there is need to promote global harmony and understanding and to build bridges between different countries and people. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     Pakistan believes in the promise of the Charter of the United Nations. Multilateral cooperation is the only realistic way to deal with contemporary global issues. 

     I am happy to say that Pakistan and China share the same perspectives and work closely at international for a to promote peace and development. 

     Like China, our national priority is socio- economic development. We wish to create an environment of peace and stability for ensuring unimpeded progress.

      We must endeavor to create a prosperous and harmonious Asia, at peace with itself and the world. We must work towards a framework for Asia-wide cooperation. This calls for real democratization of the international system. For instance, Security Council reform and expansion must not become an issue of "privilege and power." These issues should be decided by consensus on the basis of "equity and real democratization."

     We must firmly reject and defeat the notion of clash of civilizations. We must affirm the  indivisibility of the human race. Cherish unity in diversity. We must re-assert common humanity and common universal values. We must guard against the symbiosis of power, ideology and values for the pursuit of personal or parochial agendas. We must develop a reasoned synthesis of civilizations as a mature response to the evil doctrines designed to spread hate and intolerance.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

     Let me now turn to Pakistan's role in promoting the vision of common security and prosperity.

     Pakistan remains in the forefront of the international campaign against terrorism. The fight against terrorism and extremism is in line with our national interest and our vision of Pakistan as a moderate, modern and progressive society. We believe it is essential to pursue a comprehensive approach for combating terrorism - combining military, political and socio-economic tracks. It is equally essential to address the underlying causes that lead to acts of desperation and terrorism. Terrorism has no religion, no race, and no nationality. It is wrong to associate it to a religion, culture or people. The common teaching of all religions is peace and attempts to misrepresent any faith must be resisted.

     We are engaged in promoting peace and security in South Asia and have taken several initiatives to that end. The process of building confidence and trust continues. We are engaged in dialogue with India to address all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. A just solution of this longstanding problem will usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in South Asia.

     Pakistan also hopes to realize cooperation in the field of energy, poverty alleviation and a free trade regime under the SAARC auspices. We welcome China's close association with the SAARC.

     We desire to see a peaceful and stable Afghanistan which is in the vital interest of the region. The international community must help the Afghan people with national reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

     We are reaching out to East Asia and Central Asia through ASEAN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Pakistan has excellent relations with all members of these Organizations.

     We wish to play a constructive role in promoting security in the Indian Ocean region. As member of the ASEAN Regional Forum, we are engaged in addressing issues of maritime security. We will continue to contribute positively to the Asia-Pacific security construct.

     Pakistan enjoys close and friendly ties with Islamic States. We have also reached out to the states of Africa and Latin America. We seek to build closer bonds of friendship with all countries of the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

     I also wish to take this opportunity to once again unequivocally reiterate Pakistan's adherence to the "one-China" policy and its recognition of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan as an inalienable and indivisible part of Chinese territory. The Pakistan government fully supports China's great cause of national unification and all the efforts of the Chinese government in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

     The friendship between Pakistan and China will gain in strength, fortified by our common resolve to expand and intensify mutual cooperation especially in the economic field. We need to focus on developing joint ventures, investments and trade.  

     What also binds us together is our shared idealism for a safe, secure and prosperous neighbourhood, our regions free from strife and conflict, and a world embracing peace, harmony and understanding. We want this vision to be translated into our immediate neighbourhood covering the many regions of Asia. We have faith that the Twenty First Century will be the Asia's Century.

     It has been a special privilege to share my thoughts with the intellectual elite and Communist Party of China. I request you to continue your contribution to the further blossoming of Pakistan- China friendship.

     The people of Pakistan will always stand with their Chinese friends, as you have always stood with us. We shall together contribute to promoting a

harmonious world in the twenty first century.

Thank you very much.

Long live Pakistan-China Friendship!