LAHORE: (Friday, April 10, 2015): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has stated that leadership has played significant role in strengthening ties between Pakistan and China. He said this while presiding over a special lecture on Pak-China strategic relations organized by Pakistan Study Centre here on Friday. Brig (r) Muhammad Saeed Sharif and Muhammad Mehdi, media coordinator PML-N were the keynote speakers on the occasion.

Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof Dr Massarrat Abid, faculty members and students were present on the occasion. Addressing the ceremony, the vice chancellor said that the nature of Pakistan China relationship should be understood in the wake of global perspective. He said that the relationship should not be affected by malafide propaganda against both the countries and the people of both counties should differentiate between propaganda and information. Prof. Dr. Massarrat Abid highlighted the significance of relationship between the two countries. She hoped that Pakistan China friendship would grow with the passage of time and mutual trust would strengthen bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan further for mutual benefit of the two counties. Brig Saeed Sharif on the occasion said Pakistan - China friendship had weathered many storms and the commonalities of geo strategic interests are likely to see further strengthening.

He said the American rebalancing of forces after withdrawal from Middle East and Afghanistan and growing belligerence in South China Sea have forced Chinese leadership to look west and open its so far undeveloped backyard. He said that was where Pakistan was the first country to settle border with China and build Karakoram Highway. He said the much hyped Silk Route Strategy had in fact started way back in 1963, when Pak- china border agreement was signed. He said the Indian ambitions of control over Indian Ocean and marriage with similar efforts by USA and its allies cannot be ignored by PLA. So it’s not only Central Asia where great game is being played, he said, adding the strategic interests are clashing in many directions. Muhammad Mehdi on the occasion stressed that China would never disappoint Pakistan. He also traced the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said Pakistan not only facilitated Henry Kissinger’s visit to China but also helped in bringing closer China and Saudi Arabia. Regarding Pakistan China Economic corridor, he said that in Pakistan foreign direct investment was stagnant due to security situation in the country. “But the Chinese are still interested in investing in Pakistan and are willing to further the strategic ties with Pakistan,” he said. He said the project was going to herald new vistas of economic and strategic cooperation between the two neighbours. He also criticized the vested propaganda against Pakistan China economic corridor and said that the efforts to sabotage the relations between the two countries would end in futility. The seminar was followed by question answer session. A large number of faculty members and students from various departments of University participated in the seminar.