Punjab University Pakistan Study Centre (PSC) arranged a panel discussion 'China's Role for Stability in Pakistan' here at the Centre on Friday. Peking University, Beijing Professor Dr Qian Xuemei, FC College University's Centre for Public Policy and Governance (CPPG) Director Professor Dr Saeed Shafqat and internationally acclaimed scholar and analyst Professor Dr Farooq Hasnat were among the keynote speakers.
Pakistan Study Centre (PSC) Director Professor Dr Massarrat Abid hosting the debate introduced the speakers and said that Pakistan had vital strategic relationship with China whose role in international politics was that of a soft superpower that believes more in dialogue than force. Pakistan needed to develop new dimensions of relationship with China in the changing scenario of international politics.
Professor Dr Qian Xuemei expressed her concern that Sino-Pak relationship was more abstract subject for academia in both countries. The future of this relationship needs more concrete research to be done on the issues of mutual interest concerning both countries.
She felt the need that Chinese scholars must have an easy approach to the Pakistani perspective instead of reading the studies conducted by Indian scholars and for this purpose Pakistani scholars should come forward and express their viewpoint especially for Chinese and the world at large. She considered that both Pakistani government and people have been supporting social justice in South Asia and in international affairs.
Professor Dr Saeed Shafqat stressed the need of increasing the people to people contact, in fields of socio-economic development and education can be improved. He said that Pakistan's relationship with US is not going to affect its relationship with China but it is necessary at this time that both China and Pakistan should enhance their relations in order to be safe from the adverse effect of emerging long-term US co-operation to Pakistan.
Professor Dr Farooq Hasnat, maintained that now US does recognise that it is not uni-polar world and regional co-operation is essential for development of global peace. US dealing Afghanistan and Pakistan in the same way while dynamics in both countries are different. Pakistan Army took very effective measures in Swat in month, which Nato could not do in years.
He criticised the conditionality in the Kerry-Lugar bill pointing out that it is a political lecture that stresses Pakistan to establish solid relations with regional countries - India and Afghanistan - while ignores China. He said that it is India and not Pakistan who is strategic US partner. Therefore, Pakistan must not neglect its strategic partnership with China in the hope of close relationships with US. Research scholars and students of the Centre participated in the discussion.