Two-day seminar on Pak-China relations held

China is time-tested friend of Pakistan in the region and is building projects worth $20 billions in the country whereas projects amounting to $14 billion are in the pipeline, as Pakistan is geo-economic hub of Asia with mega trade and energy corridors linking the two countries in future.
Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nawabzada Malik Ammad Khan said this while addressing a two-day Seminar on Pak-China Relations 2011: Year of Friendship organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) here on Tuesday. He said that in his recent visit to Pakistan Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao both sides signed agreements to undertake projects worth $15 billion. Pakistan is destined to play a pivotal role in the development in three vital regions ie south central and west Asia including Western China by virtue of Pakistan's geographic location, he added.
Ammad Khan maintained that close relations with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy as it views the relationship beneficial not only for progress and development of both the countries, but also as an important factor for regional and international harmony.
Notable speakers including Chinese Ambassador Liu Jian, Director General Institute of Strategic Studies, former Ambassador Tanvir Ahmad Khan, former Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokar, Dr Wang Xu of Peking University and Wang Ziabang Vice President CICIR, China along with other also presented their point of view.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Jian speaking on the issue of Pak-China relations over the years said that there are four major factors behind exemplary bilateral ties: both countries' strict adherence to the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence; their wholehearted support for each other through thick and thin; high level of economic integration and consensus on regional and international issues.
Director ISSI and former Ambassador Tanvir Ahmad Khan, in his welcome address shed light on the importance of China as an integral part of our world view and admired the highly constructive manner in which China has embraced the role as a major global power.
First session of the conference was chaired by former foreign secretary Riaz H Khokhar. In his presentation on "China and Emerging World Order" Wang Zaibang, Vice President China Institute of Contemporary International Relations said the emerging China as a global power is absolutely a positive factor for the establishment of a harmonious world because the Chinese government and the people pursue the traditional ideas of harmony and quoted the Chinese local idiom 'He Wei Gui' meaning peace is most valuable. He said China would firmly pursue the strategy of peaceful rise and oppose any power-politics and hegemony. He said after the end of cold war American uni-polar policy did not augur well for the global peace therefore, China is stressing creation of an harmonious world order.
Ghani Jafar from the Institute of Strategic Studies spoke on "China in an Age of Recession", noting that China had played a major role in helping the crisis-ridden European economies rebound through investing in massive infrastructure projects, buying up substantial portions of their debts and increasing overall economic collaboration. He further said that China's remarkably swift recovery is provided by the country's politico-economic dealings with the rest of the world and Pakistan has been fortunate to have stuck an abiding, flourishing and mutually beneficial friendship with this great neighbour.
Wang Xu from Peking University apprised on "Global Environmental Challenges and Opportunities", asserting that the severe global environmental challenges requires re-examination of the past regardless of race, religion or geographical boundaries and the establishment of long-term and stable cross-regional multi-lateral negotiation mechanism.
Former Ambassador Tanvir Ahmad Khan, in his presentation, entitled, 'Regional Competition for Energy Resources' was of the view that currently the regional energy discourse is dominated by the quest for energy resources by China and India. He shed light on the importance, growing need and ongoing struggle for energy resources spanning from oil and gas pipelines to Nuclear power and sea lanes of communication. He also highlighted key issues pertaining to maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
Simbal Khan of ISS in her presentation, titled "Afghanistan and its geo-political environment: Opportunities and challenges", said that the current state of security situation in Afghanistan is largely affecting the states in the neighbourhood especially Pakistan.
She opined that China and Pakistan are natural partners, who can benefit largely from the region's full potential, adding that China should develop Gwadar Port to make it fully operational for regional benefit regardless of the reservations of the leading world powers.
Ye Hailin from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences shared his views on 'China's Role in South Asia: Opportunities and Challenges'. Amna Yousuf discussed Sino-Indian relations and their implications for Pakistan noting that China-Pakistan-India trilateral relation has an interesting economic and security interdependence equation.
Highlighting the limitation of Sino-Indian relations, she said there are bilateral mistrust, suspicions and the inherent rivalry. Waqas Sajjad spoke on "Pakistan and India-the interrupted dialogue". He was of the view that terrorism is the most overarching problem between the two neighbours and is a major hurdle in moving towards the stalled Composite Dialogue, without which much progress is impossible. Commander Azahar Ahmad (Retd) discussed 'Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region' and its implication on Sino-Pak interests.
Commander Azhar (Retd) said that Pakistan and China must carefully analyse the geo-political and the maritime environment and devise a common strategy in pursuit of peace and prosperity in the region. He said that extra-regional as well as regional powers have great interests in the Indian Ocean as a large part of the international trade is carried out by Indian Ocean.