President Zardari felicitate his new Chinese counterpart

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Chinese President Xi Jinping Saturday and felicitated him on his formal election as President by the National People's Congress.

The President expressed the hope that the time tested Pak-China relations will grow from strength to strength during the presidency of Xi Jinping and that the drive for passing on this relationship to the new generations, will gain further momentum.

Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that bilateral relations and regional situation also came up for discussion during the telephonic conversation.

Expressing satisfaction over the recent transfer of operation and maintenance of Gwadar Port to China, President Zardari expressed the hope that the project would open up new opportunities for the peoples of the two countries, particularly for the people of Balochistan. He said it would also open a new chapter in regional connectivity and trade.

He said Pakistan was eager to promote regional connectivity and trade for the socio-economic benefit of the people and for finding regional solutions to regional issues.

The President said China was a source of inspiration for Pakistan and the people of Pakistan rejoiced China's remarkable progress and were proud of their friendship with China.

The President also invited President Xi Jinping to visit Pakistan on the date of his convenience.

President Xi Jinping thanked the President for his call and felicitation and expressed the hope that Pak-China friendship and multi-faceted mutual cooperation would further strengthen in the times to come. He also extended invitation to President Zardari to visit China.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that he had visited China nine times since he assumed the office of President and that he looked forward to visit the country yet again on dates to be worked out by the foreign offices of the two countries, the Spokesperson said.

The Spokesperson said that President Zardari is the first Head of State to telephone President Xi Jinping to felicitate him on his elections as the President of the People's Republic of China.