Daily Times

President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated that Pakistan firmly adhered to the one-China principle as the country always chooses to stand on the right side of history.

“Pakistani people loved China as “there is no conditionality between us,” the president remarked in an interview with the Chinese media published on Wednesday, marking the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

This was the first such interaction of President Zardari with any foreign media after being re-elected for the second time in March.

Recalling the rapport between the previous leaders of the two countries, Zardari said, “My late father-in-law, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto told the nation to look East, to look towards China.”

President Zardari, who had visited China nine times during his first term as Pakistani president, reaffirmed Pakistan’s stance of upholding the one-China principle, rejecting any form of “Taiwan independence.”

“Taiwan is part of China. There’s no other way,” the president said, adding that Pakistan will always stand with China and safeguard China’s core interests.

Commenting on the development of Gwadar Port, a starting point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Zardari said a lot of work had been done at the Gwadar Port since the launch of the CPEC 11 years ago, noting that the Port would always welcome investors from all over the world.

Zardari said Pakistan is encouraging more schools to adopt the Chinese language into their compulsory curriculum.

Emphasizing the importance of strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, he called for more policies to facilitate the movement of people between the two countries.

Appreciating the achievements made by the Chinese people, Zardari said that ensuring the continuation of policies is one of the key reasons behind China’s success and Pakistan hoped to be more involved in China’s development process.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement reiterating Pakistan’s firm adherence to the One-China principle and its opposition to Taiwan Independence, is highly appreciate, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday.

Addressing his regular briefing, the spokesperson said that President Zardari recently reiterated on behalf of Pakistan its firm adherence to the One-China principle.

The firm opposition to “Taiwan independence” not only shows firm support for China’s just position, but also echoes the common aspiration of countries upholding fairness and justice in the world, fully demonstrating that adhering to the One-China principle is the trend of the times and the will of the people of the international community, he added.

Wang Wenbin said China highly appreciated these remarks by President Zardari.

He said that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and “iron” friends.

China and Pakistan will continue to give each other firm support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns and work together to build a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future, he added.

It may be mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari made it clear in an interview that Pakistan will firmly adhere to the One-China principle, stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.