Islamabad - XINHUA
Pakistan-China Friendship Group in National Assembly or the lower house of the parliament would be constituted shortly and would commence its activities, Pakistan parliamentary speaker said on Friday. Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said in a meeting with the Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong that boosting the contacts between parliamentarians of both the countries would advance better understanding and pragmatic cooperation to meet challenges in pursuit of common development. He said that Pakistan and China are not only neighbors but time- tested and all-weather friends. The speaker said that friendship and cooperation between both of the brotherly countries serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and beyond. He said that Pakistan strongly desire to further consolidate and deepen its deep-rooted, all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation for mutual benefit of both the nations. The Chinese ambassador said that Chinese government always regards Pakistan as its closest friend and wants to further deepen China-Pakistan friendship and pass it on from generation to generation. He expressed his gratitude for Pakistan\'s longstanding firm support on issues that concern China\'s core interests.