【70 Years Anniversary of PRC】Pakistani Ambassador : We Will Continue to be Strategic Partners

Editor’s Note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It amazes people that China, which could barely feed its people 70 years ago, has turned into one that is building a well-off society in an all-round way.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, China Focus launches a series of in-depth interviews with renowned academics, diplomats and high-level officials from abroad, sharing their views on China’s development and how the relationship between China and the world has been changing over the past 70 years, as well as their vision for the future.

Ms. Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi is the Ambassador of Pakistan to the People’s Republic of China. Before assuming office in Beijing in July 2019, she spent four years working as Deputy Head of Mission at the Pakistan Embassy to China from 2003 to 2007, an experience that has enabled her feel much closer to her country’s next door neighbor. She has also written several books on China, including: Pakistan-China All Weather Friendship.

In this exclusive interview with China Focus, Ms. Hashmi tells of her faith in the China-Pakistan relationship and how she is looking forward to deeper cooperation between the two countries through the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. With huge admiration for China’s accomplishments over the past 70 years, Ambassador Hashmi hopes China and Pakistan will continue to be strategic partners, working together for development, peace and harmony.

China Focus: How would you describe the current relationship between China and Pakistan and how will their relationship develop in the future?

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi : The strength of our friendship is beyond words. The China-Pakistan friendship has evolved over the past seven decades from good neighbors and friends into strategic partners based on practical cooperation. We have developed a well-rounded relationship based on mutual trust and respect.

Today, we truly are “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative” partners and each other’s strength, as President Xi calls us “iron brothers”. In the coming decades, our strong bilateral ties will continue to synergize with emerging regional and global trends for sustainable development and lasting peace.

China Focus: China initiated the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). How do Pakistan and China jointly benefit from these initiatives?

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi : BRI and AIIB are significant milestones of this new globalism. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an extension of BRI. It is inspired by President Xi’s vision of regional connectivity and people-centric development model which fully resonates with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of “Naya Pakistan”*, who firmly believes that CPEC is a “game-changer” not only for Pakistan but the entire region.

Connecting Gwadar Port (in southwestern Pakistan) to China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, through a network of highways, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas, presents enormous opportunities to people from Gwadar to Kashgar.

China Focus: The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is currently the largest project between the two countries. Why is CPEC so important?

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi : CPEC is a revival of the ancient Silk route and has become a hallmark of deep friendship between Pakistan and China from 1951 to date. With CPEC and BRI, Pakistan and China have started a new chapter of friendship that has great potential to contribute to regionalism. Together, we envisage creating an enabling environment for collective prosperity to promote regional economic integration and cooperation with this mega-project.

China Focus: In your observation, what is the greatest achievement that China has made over the past 70 years? How would you describe China’s changing role in global governance such as in the United Nations? And how do you see China’s role developing in the future?

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi : In past 70 years, China has tremendously transformed from a poor developing country to the world’s second largest economy. In the process of opening-up and reform, China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty. It has restored the dignity of its people with provision of basic needs such as clean drinking water, decent work, housing and education.

Moreover, it has become a center of R&D, innovation and tech-advancement going towards high-quality products. It is the global champion of “the peoples and the planet” with its leadership in UN’s climate-change agenda and South-South cooperation. As one of the five permanent members of UN Security Council, we highly appreciate China’s continued efforts for an equitable and just rule-based global system.

China is leading our collective efforts to protect and promote multilateralism and the UN charter and the UN’s peace, security and development agenda. Its efforts for regional economic interdependence are likely to overcome geographical constraints for sustainable socio-economic growth and stability for the world.

China Focus: What do you think of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s concept of “building a community with a shared future for mankind”? And what does it mean to Pakistan?

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi : President Xi is a great “thought-leader” of our times. BRI and CPEC are a testament to our resolve of “leaving no one behind”. It is an agenda to promote human dignity and prosperity through development, to build a “community with a shared future for mankind”.

It has also made Pakistan and China viable economic partners for cooperative regional integration with opportunities for South and Central Asia’s rejuvenation. It will open new avenues for economic activity and a trade pathway from China and the Middle East and Africa at large, ultimately benefitting people.

China Focus: In your view, what is the biggest problem that the international community currently faces? How is China helping combat this problem?

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi : Protectionism and unilateralism are two big challenges we face today. The stratagem of trade wars, military posturing and regional rivalries are threatening global peace and economic growth. The geopolitical, geo-economic, geostrategic outlooks and 4th Industrial revolution are transforming our globe.

In this context, China is making great contribution for regional development as well as multilateralism. All countries – big or small, developed or developing, must adhere to the principles of cooperation against confrontation. The only way to resolve these problems is through dialogue and China has a great tradition of consultation for fostering understanding.

China Focus: Is there anything you would like to say to China and Chinese people as the 70th anniversary is approaching?

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi : On behalf of the government of Pakistan and its people, Embassy of Pakistan, and my own behalf, I wish to express our heartiest felicitations to the government and people of China. Despite different political systems, social orientations, cultural roots and heritage, Pakistan and China represent a unique model of civilizational harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Pakistan and China represent time-tested bonds of friendship. Pakistan has steadfastly stood by China for last seven decades in its remarkable journey and will continue to nurture this friendship. We will continue to be strategic partners for peace, development and harmony. Zhong-Ba You Yi Wan Sui! （Long live China-Pakistan friendship!）

Editor: Dong Lingyi, Tom Scott-Bell

* Editor’s Note: “Naya Pakistan” is the political motto that refers to the six promises Prime Minister Imran Khan made to the people of Pakistan in March 2013