Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev concluded their recent visits to China, to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, with visits to Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, prior to their returning home. Both leaders met with Ma Xingrui, a Political Bureau member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee as well as party secretary for the autonomous region.
The Pakistan Prime Minister offered the Friday prayers at the historic Hang Yang Grand Bazaar Mosque in Urumqi and prayed for the progress and prosperity of the country as well as the Muslim Ummah. He specially prayed for the oppressed people of Gaza and for their deliverance from suffering. Kakar also addressed students and faculty at Xinjiang University in Urumqi, saying:
“In Pakistan, we say a good neighbour is a treasure. In this regard, we are very fortunate to have China as a good brother, good neighbour, good partner, and good friend.”
In his discussions, Kazakh President Tokayev focused on the economic ties between the four border regions of Kazakhstan and Xinjiang. The share of Xinjiang exceeds 40% of the total trade volume between Kazakhstan and China. In six months this year, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Xinjiang increased by 87%, reaching US$8.5 billion, he noted.
“We will encourage Kazakh tourists to travel to China to explore natural beauty and your achievements in socio-economic development,” he said, adding:
“Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been famous for its substantial cultural development. Local creative teams deservedly enjoy international recognition. We support the full development of creative exchanges and mutual tours, which will undoubtedly help strengthen the ties of good neighbourliness and friendship.”
These visits underscore the growing importance attached by China to both neighbourhood and subnational diplomacy. They also highlight the fact that the leaders of neighbouring countries reject the western propaganda falsely alleging religious persecution and denial of national rights in China’s border regions.
In similar vein, Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda concluded his eight-day official visit to China in September, which began with attending the opening of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, with a visit to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, also known as Xizang. After visits to the ancient Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in the capital Lhasa, Prachanda visited visited Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake, which are considered holy by Hindus. He told the Nepali national news agency RSS that provisions would be made for pilgrims and tourists from Nepal, India and other countries to visit Kailash and Manasarovar through the Nepali route.
The following articles were originally published by the Pakistani newspaper The News, Kazakhstan’s Astana Times and the Press Trust of India (PTI, reprinted by various Indian newspapers).
PM in rare visit to Xinjiang in China
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Friday departed for Pakistan on the completion of his five-day visit to China. At the Urumqi International Airport, the prime minister was seen off by the Standing Member of Communist Party of China Illizat Ahmetjan, and senior officers of the Chinese government and Pakistan’s Embassy. On the last leg of the visit, the prime minister visited Urumqi and met Member Politburo of CPC’s Central Committee Ma Xingrui, besides addressing the students at Xinjiang University.
The prime minister offered the Friday prayers at the historic Hang Yang Grand Bazaar Mosque in Urumqi and prayed for the progress and prosperity of the country as well as the Muslim Ummah. He specially prayed for the oppressed people of Gaza and for their deliverance from suffering. Kakar also addressed students and faculty at Xinjiang University in Urumqi.
“In Pakistan, we say a good neighbor is a treasure. In this regard, we are very fortunate to have China as a good brother, good neighbor, good partner, and good friend.
Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping has extended support to Pakistan and urged a secure environment for Chinese institutions and personnel.
During a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Thursday, Xi said, “It is hoped that Pakistan will ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Pakistan.” The longtime allies reaffirmed their “unwavering” partnership, vowing to further strengthen strategic communication and bilateral cooperation, reports the international media.
A readout of the meeting released by China’s Foreign Ministry said Xi appreciated “Pakistan’s long-term firm support for China’s core interests” and that Beijing will “continue to support Pakistan in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”
On the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Xi said the two sides take it as an “opportunity to create an ‘upgraded version’ of the multi-billion-dollar project.”
President Xi pointed out economic growth, people’s livelihood, innovation, cooperation in industrial parks, agriculture, mining, and new energy as some of the fields where the two sides can further cooperate under the CPEC.
He added China was willing to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan within the framework of the UN and Shanghai Cooperation Organization and promote regional unity and cooperation and safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the caretaker prime minister Friday called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the latest situation resulting from the ongoing brutalities of Israeli occupation forces against innocent Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank.
Kakar expressed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of incessant and lethal bombardment by Israeli occupation forces, particularly the bombing of Al-Ahli hospital, and criticized these deplorable and willful acts of Israeli aggression against innocent Palestinians.
Kazakhstan, Xinjiang Reiterate Commitment to Deepen Ties in Priority Areas
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ma Xingrui, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), reaffirmed the intention to enhance and deepen cooperation on Oct. 18 in Urumqi, reported the Akorda press service.
During the meeting, Tokayev noted high results of Kazakhstan’s interaction with Xinjiang in trade, industry, transport, logistics, agriculture and tourism.
“Kazakhstan is ready to increase the supply of various products, including metallurgical, petrochemical, engineering, food products, as well as construction materials. (…) Also, Kazakhstan could become a stable supplier of environmentally friendly agricultural products to the Chinese market,” the President said.
Tokayev focused on the economic ties between the four border regions of Kazakhstan and Xinjiang. The share of Xinjiang exceeds 40% of the total trade volume between Kazakhstan and China. In six months this year, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Xinjiang increased by 87%, reaching $8.5 billion.
The President highlighted the importance of constructing the third railway crossing between Kazakhstan and China, encouraging the implementation of this project in the near future.
During the talks, the sides addressed cooperation in the water industry, the use of transboundary rivers, and the development of tourist exchanges. The year of Kazakhstan’s Tourism in China, designated for 2024, is supposed to increase the flow of tourists from China to Kazakhstan, Tokayev said.
“We will encourage Kazakh tourists to travel to China to explore natural beauty and your achievements in socio-economic development,” he added.
The President also focused on advancing historical, cultural, and humanitarian relations between Kazakhstan and the XUAR.
“Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been famous for its substantial cultural development. Local creative teams deservedly enjoy international recognition. We support the full development of creative exchanges and mutual tours, which will undoubtedly help strengthen the ties of good neighborliness and friendship,” Tokayev said.
Ma underlined the importance of implementing the agreements reached during talks between Tokayev and President of China Xi Jinping and initiatives announced at the Belt and Road Forum.
“We will deepen bilateral trade and economic cooperation, focusing on agriculture, cross-border trade, and energy. We will establish interaction between our scientific organizations, universities, and enterprises, encourage our joint ventures to invest and open businesses in Kazakhstan and Xinjiang,” he said.
According to Ma, Tokayev’s visit to China is historic, and the meeting in XUAR would strengthen interregional cooperation.
PM ‘Prachanda’ visits Kailash-Mansarovar pledges to make it accessible through Nepal
Kathmandu, Sep 29 (PTI) Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ visited Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region in China and vowed to make them more accessible to pilgrims, including Indians, through the Himalayan country.
Prachanda, who is on an eight-day official visit to China, visited Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake, considered holy by Hindus, on Thursday after visiting Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, on Wednesday.
The prime minister told Nepal’s national news agency RSS that provisions would be made for pilgrims to visit Mt Kailash and Manasarovar Lake through the Nepali route via the Humla district of Karnali province.
According to Prachanda, an agreement has been made with the Chinese government in principle for allowing the travel of visitors and pilgrims, including tourists from Nepal, India and other countries, through Humla district to Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar, MyRepublica newspaper reported.
The Mansarovar Lake lies around 160 kilometres from Humla district’s headquarters in Simikot, according to the report.
The prime minister and his delegation also held bilateral talks with the Secretary of Sichuan Province of China on Friday. The Chinese delegation was led by Wang Xinhui, who is also the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Sichuan Province People’s Congress.
During the talks, Prachanda recalled his recent meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Qiang and other high-level discussions in China.
Prachanda met President Xi on Saturday on the sidelines of the Asian Games in Hangzhou and travelled to Beijing, where he held wide-ranging talks with Chinese Premier Li on Monday.
He also witnessed the signing of 12 agreements, including seven MoUs, to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade and road connectivity.
“The Prime Minister expressed confidence that these high-level meetings will be a milestone in the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries in the past and taking the bilateral relations to a new height,” the government-run daily Gorkhapatra reported.
In Lhasa, where the prime minister arrived from China’s Chongqing city, Prachanda held various bilateral talks with Chinese officials. He also visited the ancient Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple there.
Prachanda flew directly to China on September 23 from New York, where he addressed the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations.
The prime minister is accompanied by his daughter, Ganga Dahal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Prakash Saud, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, and his chief political advisor, Haribol Gajurel among others, according to Foreign Ministry sources.
Prachanda is scheduled to return to Nepal on Saturday after concluding the official visit.
Meanwhile, prime minister Prachanda’s visit to Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar has led to speculation in the Nepalese media about his intentions. One Nepalese news portal – Lokantar — has termed the visit as Prachanda’s religious diplomacy, while another news portal – Nepalkhabar – asks what message Prachanda wanted to convey by visiting from Mahakaleshwar to Mansarovar?
He made headline news after he offered prayer at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, India wearing a yellow saffron dress. The former guerrilla commander had never visited a temple or worshipped any idol in the past until he paid an official visit to India in May.
