It is my fourth visit to this great country. As a Federal Minister of Pakistan I led Pakistan Parliamentary delegation and joined the celebrations of 35th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. We are time tested friends.

Second time I visited this country in 1997 to resolve the China & Taiwan chapter issue as some people were creating problems by inducting Taiwan as chapter of A.C.R.P, which I and my colleagues had opposed.

As a moderator I with the help of the distinguished members of Executive Committee amicably resolved it and Taiwan was placed as an observer. We believe in one China, The People's Republic of China which is the permanent member of UN Security Council.

In December 2008 I along with my son Khalid Nawaz Khan visited this beautiful country as guests of C.C.R.P. I can not forget the rich hospitality and kind courtesy extended to me & my son by the leaders & members of C.C.R.P. and other Chinese dignitaries. I was captivated by their generosity and kindness. China is progressing in every field very rapidly and is a model for all developing countries of the world. China is the custodian of rich culture. It has cherished history spread over thousands years.

The Chinese nation is hard working and devoted. Their strong will & determination are like the Great Wall of China. China was a cradle of civilisation & learning when the world was clamped with darkness. As an Asian we share the prosperity of China and let it serve as beacon light for other nations. If you turn the pages of history, you would be completed to believe that China never attacked any country or nation, though it was repeatedly attacked and went through untold agonies, misries and atrocities.

Today China being a socialist country it has complete religious freedom. About two decades back, Chinese government returned Mosques, Churches and Temples etc to the followers of those faiths and those places of worship were repaired and renovated by the government.

We highly appreciate this kind gesture and liberal attitude of the Chinese government. We also appreciate the excellent arrangements made for the Executive Committee meeting by C.C.R.P. and are grateful to all its office bearers and members from the deepest core of our hearts.

Permit me to say that A.C.R.P. should project and tread the path of peace and try to remove misunderstanding among the followers of different faiths and should bridge the gap. We should try that the clash of civilisations is changed into the confluence of civilisations. We can reinvent a new world not of conquest but of connectivity. It will be world defined not by clash of civilisations but confluence of civilisations.

The clash of civilisations is counter productive. The civilisations are not incompatible and prone to conflict when they interact. In the last century (20th century) 180 millions people died in wars and conflicts. We must make 21 century the century of soft power. There is urge and desire for soft power which can be achieved by interaction of civilisations.

There is dire need for meaningful global dialogue and out reach. Through dialogue Turkey and Armenia are removing the effects of their old hostility.

The snow is melting and leaders of both countries have started a mission to open the door of reconciliation.

It is also necessary for achieving peace, the outstanding issues between the nations must be amicably resolved with out assorting to violence and wars.

We must tread the path of moderation. Multiculturalism, forbearance and forgiveness should be the aim and objective of all faiths and cultures based on mutual respect.

We must preach common living with the mission to turn ignorance into compassion and intolerance into respect. We must educate the people to refrain from ridiculing and maligning any faith, prophet or religious and spiritual leaders of any faith. People of the world have great expectations from W.C.R.P. & A.C.R.P. to bring them closer and create peaceful atmosphere for co-existence.

These august organisations should not confine themselves to once a year meeting of Executive Committee or holding general assembly after five years. But there should be frequent interfaith conferences, workshops and seminars held in different countries.

We should send delegation to any trouble spot in order to cool down the situations and create conducive environment for rapprochement.

We should educate the people not to fall prey to the designs of terrorists and mischief mongers. We should link the people by an umbilical cord.

We should tell the people that it is always better to be friendly than to be leery.

Let the people feel puff of fresh air and get rid of war hysteria. Our appeal should be frantic and convincing which will definitely bear fruit. I appeal to all the peace loving religionists and peace loving people of the world to join hands and create a peaceful world by frustrating the evil designs of fanatics, extremists and terrorists.

---