Remarks by Ambassador Sun Weidong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China,
at the Inauguration of the China-Pakistan Study Center, ISSI
(16 June 2017, Islamabad)
Honorable Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs,
Honorable Amb. Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad,
Dr. Ahmad Rashid Malik, Director of the ISSI China-Pakistan Study Center,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Aslam Alegum and good morning to you all.
It is my pleasure to attend the inauguration of the China-Pakistan Study Center established at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. The establishment of the Center is the latest outcome of cooperation between the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and the ISSI. And it marks that the Chinese Studies of the ISSI has reached a new level. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the ISSI for the establishment of its China-Pakistan Study Center.
Dear friends,
The establishment of the China-Pakistan Study Center is just at right time. I notice that more and more Pakistani friends want to know more about China, its policies and relations. They are wondering how China emerges as the second largest economy of the world, what opportunities that China’s development will bring to the world and what impact will China’s peaceful development have on the international relations. These questions need to be addressed and explored by scholars of both countries. In my mind, there are at least three reasons behind China’s fast development.
The first is the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China. China has come this far because the Chinese people have, under the leadership of the CPC, blazed a development path that suits China’s actual conditions. This path could be featured as focusing on economic construction, pursuing reform and innovation and pursuing common development through opening-up.
The second is peaceful development. China has always respected the sovereignty of other countries, upheld international justice, and attached great importance to a good and friendly neighborhood. China has never sought hegemony or expansion. China’s foreign policy has consistently been built on the five principles of peaceful coexistence.
The third is the hard work and perseverance of the Chinese people. Hard work and perseverance are qualities that have defined the Chinese nation for several thousand years. We Chinese are not magicians. We know only too well that only hard work can change our future. For a big country with over 1.3 billion people, development can be only achieved with the dedication and tireless efforts.
Dear friends,
China is willing to share its development opportunities with other countries while pursuing its own development. As Chinese President Xi Jinping once said, China’s development has benefited from the international community, and we are ready to provide more public goods to the international community.
One of the pubic goods that China provided is the initiative of building the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative is carrying the virtue of peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win spirit. This is the great spirit of Silk Road. Today, we are building the Belt and Road Initiative under the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits so as to make this spirit shining again.
The Belt and Road initiative has been widely welcomed by regional countries and international community. As you have noticed, one month ago, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held successfully in Beijing. More than 1,500 distinguished guests from 130 countries and 70 international organizations, including 29 state or government leaders from all over the world gathered together and discussed cooperation on the Belt and Road construction under the theme of win-win cooperation. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and senior ministers of Pakistan also attended the BRF forum in Beijing and contributed significantly to the success of the BRF Forum. And CPEC is a pilot project of BRI which has come into the stage of early harvest.
Dear friends,
In the future, China will contribute more public goods to the common development of the world. During the BRF Forum, President Xi has announced a series of measures to promote the Belt and Road cooperation. For example, China will contribute an additional RMB 100 billion to the Silk Road Fund. The China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China will set up special lending schemes respectively worth RMB 250 billion equivalent and RMB 130 billion equivalent to support Belt and Road cooperation on infrastructure, industrial capacity and financing. China will provide assistance worth RMB 60 billion to developing countries and international organizations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to launch more projects to improve people’s well-being.
Dear friends,
As a leading Think-tank in Pakistan, the ISSI has attached great importance to Chinese Studies and made great contributions in interpreting China’s development and its relations with Pakistan. In particular, Amb. Khalid Mahood, Chairman of the ISSI and Amb. Masood Khan, the former Director General of the ISSI have made personal efforts in introducing China and promoting China-Pakistan friendship. I would like to extend my appreciation for all your contributions. I also congratulate Dr. Ahmad Rashid Malik who acts as Director of the Center. I believe that under your leadership, the Center will become a better platform for Chinese Studies and a new bridge of friendship between China and Pakistan. The Chinese Embassy will continue to support the ISSI and the Center in the future.
The Chinese Embassy will also work closely with our diplomatic colleagues from Pakistan, and deepen our cooperation and coordination in international and regional affairs so as to safeguard our common interests.
May I wish the China-Pakistan Study Center a full success. May I wish China-Pakistan friendship last forever.
Thanks and Shukria!
