Saturday, August 22, 2009

DTN News: Pakistan Supports China's Stance On Xinjiang Says Asif Ali Zardari

DTN News: Pakistan Supports China's Stance On Xinjiang Says Asif Ali Zardari *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - August 22, 2009: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has supported China's policies in its insurgency hit Xinjiang region. Zardari, who arrived here on Friday on a four day visit, said Islamabad endorses China's policies in the riot hit Xinjiang region, where nearly 200 people were killed in ethnic riots between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese residents. "We are glad that the situation in Urumqi has been brought under control. We believe that China's policy of social harmony and development is producing great results for all Chinese people," Zardari told media persons in Islamabad before leaving for Beijing. When asked about Pakistan's relationship with China, Zardari said Beijing is an all-weather and time-tested friend of Islamabad. "We greatly value our cherished friendship and have complete trust on all bilateral, regional and global issues," Xinhua news agency quoted Zardari, as saying. Zardari, who is on his fourth visit to China since assuming office in 2008, said he wanted to translate China's tremendous success in various fields in Pakistan to make it a better country. "The reason that I keep going to China is to learn and educate myself, then transfer what I can experience and see, and then translate that success to Pakistan and accordingly hope to do better for my nation," he said. Commenting on the Swat military offensive, Zardari claimed that extremists have been forced to retreat, but said operation against the militants would continue until the writ of the government is fully established in the region. "We expect the military operation to continue until the writ of the government has been fully restored. Democracy is always a format of dialogue. But nobody would be allowed to take the law into their hands and extremism would not be tolerated," he said. Zardari said peace and normalcy is slowly returning to Swat, Malakand and Buner with people starting to return to their home. "The process of development has been launched. Economic activity is picking up gradually," he said, adding: "The social and administrative infrastructure has been restored in troubled areas."

No comments: