ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said that the friendship between China and Pakistan has no parallel in the world. Talking to Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, who called on him at the Parliament House, on Tuesday, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that the One Built One Road (OBOR) project is the most brilliant initiative of the century and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a major part of this project. Pakistan is fully committed to the timely completion of all projects under CPEC, he said. He underlined the need for regular interaction between parliamentarians and business community of both the countries to strengthen the existing relations. He said that the relations between Pakistan and China were based on shared geopolitical, economic, historical and strategic interest and added that both the countries had always stood by each other. Referring to the recently held Speakers Conference, which was themed on ‘challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity’, the NA speaker said, “We must resolve our issues with collective wisdom. We will soon control the menace of terrorism and will enhance the connectivity for prosperity among stakeholders of the region.” While congratulating the speaker on holding the Speakers Conference in Islamabad, the Chinese ambassador declared the event ‘The beauty of the Parliamentary Diplomacy’ and gave the host credit for holding the conference. He said that this remarkable conference had encouraged the regional stakeholders for furthering parliamentary cooperation and connectivity to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity. He said that the conference would prove to be a blessing for the whole region. Yao Jing said that ‘strong and prosperous Pakistan was the real strength of China’. He asserted that Pakistan had an unrivalled importance in China’s strategic calculations and added that the leadership of both countries had demonstrated an unflinching resolve to strengthen bilateral relations. He reiterated that a vibrant Pak-China cooperation was central for tackling challenges in the region and beyond. Published in Daily Times, January 24th 2018.