CPSC's magazine 'PIVOT' launched: CPEC will bring peace to region through connectivity: Janjua

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua Wednesday asserted that Pakistan wants to give the message of peace to the world and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring peace to the region through connectivity. Janjua was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration and launch of the China-Pakistan Study Centre's (CPSC) magazine 'PIVOT,' organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
"China is Pakistan's time-tested friend and the Pakistan-China friendship has a few parallels in the international relations. Pakistan wants to give the world the message of peaceful development and it is working hard to pursue this objective," she remarked.
Referring to the CPEC, she said the multibillion dollars project is adding a strong dimension to the ties between Pakistan and China, adding that it will play an important connecting role in the entire region.
"It will also play an important role in bringing peace to the entire region," she said, adding that the CPEC is the project of regional development and connectivity.
She also underscored the need for promoting people-to-people contacts, adding that it is important to give a platform for the youth to enable the young generation to carry forward the legacy of Pakistan-China friendship. "I am confident that PIVOT will help in this regard," she added.
The foreign secretary said that the word 'pivot' is reflective of the relationship between the two countries since China and Pakistan are the pivots of each other's foreign policies. She said that the CPSC is fulfilling an essential requirement that is bringing the relationship to the forefront and congratulated the ISSI for reinvigorating the Centre which, according to her, is a highly important component of the Institute.
In his remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and it has always advocated for peaceful relations with not only its neighbours but with the international community.
He said that China has a firm commitment to boost its relationship with Pakistan in all areas. He said that development is the key to dealing with all the challenges in the present order. "This encompasses development of self as well as the development of the entire region," he added.
The Chinese envoy also congratulated the launching of the first issue of PIVOT which, he said, is an excellent way to learn Pakistan's perception of the relationship of the two countries.
He talked about the 'pivot' of the Chinese foreign policy, which he said is based on two principles: peaceful development which does not challenge international order and win-win cooperation based on dialogue and collaboration. He said that Pakistan figures at a pivotal position in the Chinese new diplomacy for peaceful development.
Director CPSC Dr Talat Shabbir while speaking said that Pakistan and China are strategic co-operative partners with their bilateral relationship standing the test of time and history.
He pointed out that the rise of China in the global context and its economic pre-eminence have propelled new dynamics for globalisation and the common good.
"Pakistan, of course, is fortunate to be playing an important role in connectivity and prosperity in our region. Thus, there is a need to promote a better understanding of the vision of the two countries, focusing on all-inclusive facets of Pakistan-China relations," he said.
He further said that the aim of the CPSC activities is to undertake pragmatic and meaningful research and advocacy to promote Pakistan-China relations in diverse spheres. In this regard, China-Pakistan Study Centre aspires to be a centre of excellence devoted to strengthening relations between the two countries.
Director General ISSI, former ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said that China and Pakistan have become stronger with time due to the strong commitment of the leadership of the two countries.
He said that China has created the necessary mechanism to make connectivity a reality, as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the CPEC are examples of that especially at a time when there is the rise of anti-globalism at the international stage.
He pointed out that considerable propaganda had been unleashed to undermine the cooperation of the two countries, adding that it is in this context that the CPSC has embarked on this initiative to create awareness of the utility of the projects created by China.
Former ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors ISSI, said that the BRI is not only a path of development but also of peace which will provide ideas to address security issues.