This year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties which started on May 21, 1951. To celebrate this special occasion, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), together with Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), hosts “New Opportunities and New Missions for China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic and Cooperative Partnership: Seminar in Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of China-Pakistan Diplomatic Relations” on May 19, 2021. The webinar is also supervised by Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

At the seminar, Mr. Sha Hailin, Chairman of Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries,reviewed the development of China-Pakistan relations in the past 70 years. He also recalled the history of contacts between Shanghai and various parts of Pakistan, in which practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have promoted mutual understanding between the two peoples.

H.E. Moin ul Haque, Ambassador of Pakistan to China described the bilateral relations as unique and unmatched, serving as a template for inter-state relations. This unique model of multiple mutuals – understanding, trust, respect, goodwill, cooperation and benefit – is enviously recognized world over as Iron Brotherhood. The two countries have a solid foundation, and must consolidate and energize multi-dimensional cooperation with high-quality and result-oriented efforts. He has all the confidence that our shared future in the New Era is brighter, stronger and more enduring.

Prof. Chen Dongxiao, President of SIIS, elaborated on the new opportunities and new missions for China-Pakistan all-weather strategic and cooperative partnership from the perspective of the changing global and regional landscapes. He argued that in the context of new political dynamics due to the increased U.S. containment and the impact of the pandemic, China and Pakistan should further strengthen strategic cooperation. The two countries should adhere to the UN-centered international rules and principles of multilateralism, and work with countries in the region and beyond to promote an open, inclusive, democratic and equitable regional security architecture based on the SCO and other regional cooperation mechanisms; and accelerate the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to promote connectivity with Central Asia and the Middle East and the formation of a unified market.

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General of ISSI, pointed out that the two countries share similar development pathsand have supported each other. The bilateral relations are based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor reflects the firm friendship between the two countries, and that the construction of the corridor has also received high attention in Pakistan and is expanding to more areas.

The participants also included Dr. Du Youkang, Director of Pakistan Studies Center at Fudan University; Dr. Liu Zongyi, Secretary General of China and South Asia Center at SIIS; Mr. Zhang Zhiyang, Director of Strategy & Marketing Department at Shanghai Electric Power Generation Group; Mr. Hussain Haider, Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai; Mr. Nawab Ali Rahoojo, Deputy Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai; Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of China-Pakistan Study Centre at ISSI; Dr. Mir Sherbaz Khetran, Research Fellow at ISSI; Mr. Muhammad Farooq Naseem, Founding Chairman and CEO of the DWP Group, etc. Participants from the two countries had fruitful discussions on CPEC, bilateral people-to-people exchanges, and China-Pakistan industrial cooperation. The webinar was a complete success.