ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing on Tuesday eulogised the young generation’s enthusiasm in carrying forward the existing deep-rooted Sino-Pak friendship that is based on principles and mutual trust. He was addressing the participants of the Annual Sangam Club Gala 2018 held at the Chinese Embassy that was participated in by students of local colleges and universities who recently visited China and saw with their own eyes the fast-growing development of China and the love the Chinese people have for Pakistan. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed was the chief guest. Other prominent people on the occasion were Senator Nuzhat Sadiq and Pakistan National Council of the Arts Chairman Jamal Shah. The ambassador said that Sangam Club is a new leaf added to Pakistan-China friendship and it would go a long way in further cementing the people-to-people contacts between the two iron-brother nations. Speaking high of the two countries’ friendship, Yao Jing hoped that the youth of the two countries will maintain the momentum of this ever-green friendship, which stood test of the time. It is a matter of great delight that our friendship is moving to a new stage of enhanced cooperative partnership, through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he added. The purpose of CPEC, he said is to help Pakistan, enhance the level of peoples’ living standard and to see the country prosperous. When China thinks to share its development, capital and experience, the first country comes in their mind is Pakistan. Their friendship is unique one and no parcel with any other country of the world, in term of mutual trust and depth of relationship at the peoples’ level. About the CPEC, Jing said it is purely economic agenda and meant to bring prosperity to the people. He expressed his pleasure that it has substantial role in enhancing the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The ambassador assured that the people-to-people contacts and mutual exchanges, particularly at the level of the young generation will keep growing in years to come. He also referred to the recent visit of Prime Minister’s Imran Khan to China and said it helped to move forward their decades’ old partnership in all fields of mutual interest. Mushahid Hussain Syed in his speech on the occasion appreciated Jing for his outstanding contribution in giving further boost to their bilateral ties, under the framework of CPEC. He said it is matter of great satisfaction that the leadership of the two countries is committed to implement CPEC’s projects in letter and spirit. He lauded China’s reforms and opening-up policies and said it was not only bringing development in China, but whole of the world. He said negative propaganda against CPEC will never work, since it is already got implemented with the operation of Gwadar port and opening of western route. The ceremony was concluded with a number of cultural performances by Pakistani students and Chinese artists. Published in Daily Times, November 21st 2018.