Chinese delegation from CPAPD visits IPS

Pak-China collaboration vital for mutual economic and strategic interests

“Pakistan and China should work together in areas of mutual concerns to protect shared economic and strategic interests. A close collaboration is needed between the two countries viz a viz the regional scenario emerging in the wake of ISAF drawdown from Afghanistan, as well as for the success of initiatives such as Pak-China Economic Corridor”.

This unanimity of views was expressed between Pakistani and Chinese scholars, in a roundtable session held at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, with the visiting delegation of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD) on February 10, 2014.

Chen Huifan, head of the Chinese delegation and the deputy secretary-general of CPAPD, stressed that it is essential for the two countries to cement their ties further in political, economic and socio-cultural fields. She was of the view that the Pak-China Economic Corridor promises a lot of potential and both countries need to identify how they can work together in building such a mutually beneficial passage.

She also underlined the importance of Pakistan in the realization of ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ proposed by Chinese president Xi Jinping. Urging for a very active collaboration between the two countries, she hoped that Pakistan and China would cooperate more extensively on such initiatives. Dilating upon various initiatives for the revival of the Silk Road, she remarked that “no country has the copyright to use the term Silk Road except the countries that lie along the ancient passage.”

While discussing the emerging scenario in Afghanistan, DG-IPS Khalid Rahman said that it was difficult to predict the post-2014 scenario of the region as the agenda of United States was still not very clear. Their careful switching of words from “withdrawal of UN forces from Afghanistan” to “drawdown of forces” has made things more uncertain. The upcoming elections in the country alongside the possibility of consequent civil war also add to the complexity of situation. In the given scenario, he regarded China as a very significant player of a region and urged it to play a key role in the regional initiative to ensure national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

DG-IPS also pointed that the modern warfare was fought more with words than the guns and bombs. He said that the west is leading this war of narratives while we are lagging far behind. He emphasized on ‘armament for the War of Narratives’ as need of the time and hoped that Pakistan and China will help each other to counter the western narrative.

The Chinese delegation, consisting of Yuxiang, Council Member, CPAPD, ZHU Fagen, Deputy Director, CPAPD and Zeng Jianing, Project Officer, CPAPD,  was also briefed by IPS Lead Coordinator, Irfan Shahzad about the mission, vision and contributions of organization, with special focus on Pak-China Program of IPS, its activities and publications.

Chen Huifan formally invited IPS team to CPAPD in Beijing, to work together on the areas of regional peace, security, economy, culture and people to people contact with in the two countries.