BEIJING, April 18: Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed the re-emergence of a multi-polar world system with the strengthening of Chinese economic and military power, saying the same was necessary for global peace and security.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said this at a speech he delivered at the influential Communist Party School and later told Chinese President Hu Jintao that "China has become a global power and Pakistan is proud of its increasing power" and influence in the world in economic, military and diplomatic areas.
In his speech, he said the world had become uni-polar but China was now changing it back into a multi-polar world and said that its over $1 trillion reserves had increased its economic power and it was now reaching out to the African and North American regions, besides Asia and Europe.
The prime minister presented Pakistan as trade and energy hub of south, central and west Asian regions and said it offered the shortest access to the sea for western China and to the Middle East.
He said that turbulence and uncertainty had marred the global political situation and dangerous trends and impulses were motivated by hegemonies and intolerance. “Many regions of the world are afflicted with 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 civilisation,” he added.
Mr Aziz said terrorism had become a global problem but equally dangerous were the attempts being made to give currency and wider acceptance to the so-called clash of civilisations and the doctrine was spreading Islam-phobia.
He said general insecurity was compounded by 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."He said attempts to impose political and economic uniformity alien to local tradition and cultural milieu disturbed the social order and natural harmony of societies. He said Pakistan believed in the promise of the Charter of the United Nations and multilateral cooperation was the only realistic way to deal with contemporary global issues.
The prime minister said Pakistan and China shared views towards working a framework for Asia-wide cooperation through real democratisation of the international system. He said Pakistan believed that the UN Security Council reform and expansion must not become an issue of "privilege and power" but should be decided by consensus on the basis of "equity and real democratization".
After the meeting with President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Aziz told Pakistani newsmen that the two sides discussed a host of regional and international issues, including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East and peace process with India. He said bilateral economic and trade cooperation was also discussed.
He said a two-way cooperation in the field of space technology was of great importance as it involved development of a number of satellites not only for communication but also for defence and other requirements.
He said the situation in Afghanistan also came under discussions and Pakistan informed China that Islamabad was very concerned about the drug production in Afghanistan and the nexus between drug money and terrorism.
He quoted President Hu Jintao as describing the two-day discussions as productive, substantive and result-oriented and believed that the relationship between the two neighbours was not only friendship but also strategic partnership.
"We are engaged in promoting peace and security in South Asia and have taken several initiatives to that end." He said Pakistan was engaged in dialogue with India to address all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan, the prime minister said, wished to play a constructive role in promoting security in the Indian Ocean and continue to contribute positively to the Asia-Pacific security.
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