Lecture on Pak-China Relations
“Pakistan remains a very important country for China in order to maintain [China’s] security, promote its relationship with the Muslim World and to ensure uninterrupted supplies of energy from the Gulf. China also needs Pakistan to enhance its market towards the Middle East and beyond. Bilateral relations are time-tested and, beyond doubt, mature enough to sustain the ups and down of emerging regional and global scenarios.”
These were the thoughts expressed by Prof. Xiao Jiangming – visiting scholar at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad from Kunming University, China – while speaking in a specially organized lecture titled “Pakistan-China Relations” at the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), on 31st October 2013. The event was organized jointly by IPS and International Relations Department, IIUI.
Prof. Xiao stressed that while political relations were rock-solid, the two countries needed to “focus more on enhancing economic cooperation” further, particularly “enhancing Chinese investment into Pakistan”, and to “promote people-to-people exchanges” with a view to transfer the spirit of friendship to the future generations. He also highlighted the achievements and landmarks to Pakistan-China diplomatic, economic and defence cooperation witnessed over past more than six decades.
Dr. Manzoor Afridi of the IR dept. IIUI emphasized that changes were inevitable and both the countries need to “explore new areas of mutual cooperation” diversifying their partnership. Dr. Afridi was of the view that increased academic exchanges between educational and research institutions of the two nations were a must at this stage of time.
Irfan Shahzad, Lead Coordinator IPS, while introducing the Institute and its research activities – China Studies Program in particular – said that IPS will continue to strive to promote better mutual understanding of two nations with academic events, joint research with Chinese counterparts and scholar’s exchanges.
A large number of faculty members and students attended the lecture.
