On December 18, 2010, Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani jointly attended the inauguration ceremony of Pakistan-China Friendship Center in Islamabad.
The Pakistan-China Friendship Center is built with assistance from the Chinese government. Premier Wen once attended the foundation-laying ceremony of the Center when he visited Pakistan in 2005. The building has a quite distinct Islamic architectural style externally and the internal decoration is fairly modern. When the two prime ministers opened the red curtain slowly, all the audiences applauded warmly and the singing and dancing Pakistani youth cheered long live the friendship between Pakistan and China. The two prime ministers then attended the launch ceremony of China-Pakistan friendship light movement in the Center. The light movement is organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, technically supported by Beijing Tongren Hospital and sponsored by a number of Chinese companies doing business in Pakistan. It plans to implement cataract operations for 1,000 Pakistani cataract patients for free within the next 2 years.
Premier Wen said in his speech that the light movement will enable more Pakistani cataract patients to see the light again and witness with their own eyes the fruitful results and promising future of China-Pakistan friendly cooperation. He welcomes the Pakistani friends to visit China after receiving the cataract operations and hopes the Chinese companies doing business in Pakistan play a bigger part in strengthening China-Pakistan friendship.
Prime Minister Gilani thanked the Chinese side for organizing the China-Pakistan friendship light movement which is the symbol of Pakistan-China friendship in the new era. The Pakistani people will never forget the profound friendship of the Chinese people.
The two prime ministers then visited the photo show with the theme of China-Pakistan friendship in the multi-function hall of the Center, held talks with the friendly personnel of both countries which had made outstanding contributions to the bilateral friendship and listened to their moving stories. Wen said that the stories told by each of them are just like numerous brooklets converging into the sea of China-Pakistan friendship. Thanks to thousands of people like them who are working arduously and dedicated quietly to the bilateral friendship, the sea of China-Pakistan friendship has never dried up and will pass on from generation to generation.
Gilani indicated that Pakistan-China relations have withstood tests of fluctuating international situation. With great vitality, Pakistan-China friendship has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples and will last forever.
Following the ceremony, the two prime ministers planted a China-Pakistan friendship tree in the square of the Center.
On the same day, Wen and Gilani listened to the introduction of the head of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority on the country’s flood disaster in the Prime Minister’s Residential Office. Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng reported China’s emergency assistance to and participation in the reconstruction of Pakistan and relevant considerations. Wen announced the package plan of China of participating in Pakistan’s reconstruction. He said that the Chinese government and people share sympathy with Pakistan and have tried our best to provide help. He thanked the Pakistani government and people for their selfless help when China was hit by the severe earthquake in Wenchuan. He said that over the years the Chinese and Pakistani people have gone together through thick and thin, supported each other and built a profound friendship which money cannot buy. He wishes the Pakistani people overcome the difficulty and rebuild their home as soon as possible. The Chinese government and people always stand side by side with the Pakistani people.