ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Yao Jing Monday called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to congratulate the latter on election victory.
The Chinese envoy, while presenting felicitations on behalf of his government to the prime minister-in waiting, reiterated Beijing’s desire to strengthen cooperation with Islamabad in all sectors.
China last week said it was ready to work with the new government in Pakistan after Imran Khan’s PTI scored a comfortable victory in the general election.
In a post-election address to the nation, Imran pledged to tackle corruption and touched on promises to strengthen and improve Pakistan’s relationship with neighbouring countries, including China.
“We will strengthen and improve our relations with China. We want to work towards success of CPEC. We also want to send teams to learn poverty alleviation from China,” the star cricketer-turned-politician said.
Beijing welcomed the development and congratulated Islamabad on holding “successful election”. A foreign ministry spokesman said result of the election would not have an impact on the ties between the two countries.
“The China-Pakistan friendship receives heartfelt support and acclamation of the two peoples. Whatever the result of the election is, it won’t affect the development of China-Pakistan relations.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, Mehdi Hunardoost Monday felicitated Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan on victory of his party in the parliamentary elections of Pakistan held on July 25.
According to press statement issued by PTI Central Media Directorate, in his felicitation message to PTI Chairman, the Irani Ambassador said that the Muslims of Pakistan through their high ambitious turnout in the elections not only bolstered the democratic pillars but also displayed their willingness to apply their right to elect their representatives and accomplish progress and development in their country. The Ambassador said that his country was fully ready for promoting and enhancing relations with the new government. “I announce entire readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran for promoting and enhancing all-field cooperation with the new government of Pakistan,” the Ambassador added.
The Ambassador prayed for good health and future success of Imran Khan and Tehreek-e-Insaf as well as welfare and progress of the people of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, President of Maldives Abdullah Yameen has congratulated Chairman PTI Imran Khan over his victory in the general elections.
He phoned Imran Khan and expressed his best wishes for the next government. Imran Khan thanked Maldivian President for his good wishes for Pakistan.
Meanwhile, United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin congratulated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for his victory in the Pakistan elections and lauded his statement on Kashmir in his victory speech. According to a statement issued on Monday, Salahuddin made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting of the UJC. He said the way Imran Khan mentioned Kashmir in his victory speech is praiseworthy.
He expressed hope that the new Prime Minister will intensify the campaign of highlighting Kashmir issue in world forums and seek its resolution.
“Kashmiris are being oppressed and the world is watching as a mute spectator,” he said.
Salahuddin said Pakistan is the main stakeholder in the Kashmir dispute and that the country under the leadership of Imran Khan will adopt a robust policy on political and diplomatic fronts to find a justifiable solution to the long-pending Kashmir dispute. Meanwhile, President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday felicitated Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan on his party’s success throughout the country in general election and his nomination for premiership. He hoped that a strong political will under Imran’s leadership can lead to economic growth and poverty elimination in the SAARC region besides integration of the intra-trade, travel and tourism.
In a statement SAARC CCI President Ruwan Edirisinghe said that It will be the political will, the determination and the bonding together of the SAARC countries which would enable the growth, eliminate poverty to take place.
PTI supremo has highlighted the desire to improve trade and commercial ties between Pakistan and India to benefit both and to reduce poverty which is heartening as it will improve overall environment in the SAARC region, he added.
Majority of the world’s poor lives in the SAARC region which can be lifted out of abject poverty if both countries agree to decide matters through result oriented parleys .It will also trigger regional trade and ensure peace which will benefit all the countries and the business community, he observed.
The SAARC CCI head said that local business community had also welcomed warmly the victory of Imran Khan and expressed their hopes that Imran Khan would introduce business friendly policies in the country to promote business activities which will ultimately helpful increasing trade in the region. “Business community was very encouraged by the PTI victory which is also evident from the sentiments in the market and he hopes that the party will deliver,” he added.
Comparing South Asia with other regions across the globe, Ruwan said with more than one-fifth of the world’s population, the SAARC region is home to two-fifths of the world’s poor.
However, it accounts for only 3 per cent of global output and 2 per cent of world exports. Intra-regional trade has stagnated at around 5 per cent of its total trade, compared to over 50 per cent in East Asia and around 20 per cent in Latin America.
Even Sub-Saharan Africa, with poor transport and telecommunication infrastructure, scores over South Asia, with over 10 per cent of its trade being intra-regional.
Ruwan said India, a connecting land mass and the largest economy of the region, has a special responsibility in increasing intra-regional economic integration and must facilitate access to its large markets for SAARC members. Meanwhile, SAARC CCI SVP Iftikhar Malik said he is much optimistic that new government will take appropriate steps to push SAARC member countries on the track of success for greater prosperity and economic development in the region. – NNI