Chinese Consulate hosts China at 75 seminar, media interaction
The Chinese Consulate General in Karachi hosted a seminar titled “China at 75”, celebrating China’s remarkable achievements and its enduring partnership with Pakistan. The event, attended by a wide range of dignitaries, professionals, and media representatives, featured speeches from notable figures such as Yang Yundong, the Chinese Consul General in Karachi, Dr. Junaid Ahmad, author of China Leads, and renowned academics Dr. Zhang Jiegen and Dr. Guo Xuetang.
The seminar was followed by an engaging Q&A session. Yang Yundong, in his address, highlighted China’s extraordinary economic growth over the past 45 years, with an annual growth rate of 8.9%. He stressed that China’s rise as the world’s largest industrial manufacturer, largest trading nation, and second-largest economy has been achieved in just a few decades, a feat that took Western nations centuries. Despite these achievements, China remains committed to its status as a developing nation and continues to advocate for the rights and interests of other developing countries. He reaffirmed the strength of the China-Pakistan relationship, describing it as “iron-clad” and “everlasting.” According to Mr. Yang, the strategic partnership between the two nations is rooted in mutual support and cooperation on core issues. He assured that any attempts to undermine this relationship would fail, and both countries are committed to deepening cooperation in various sectors. Dr. Junaid Ahmad, the author of China Leads, presented a comparative analysis between China and other leading countries, showcasing China’s superior infrastructure and social sectors. He emphasized that China has never engaged in military invasions and has remained a loyal friend to Pakistan, offering support without interfering in its internal affairs. Dr. Ahmad urged Pakistan to closely align itself with China, emphasizing the immense benefits that could come from this alliance. Chinese professors Dr. Zhang and Dr. Guo shared their insights on China’s development path and its future goals. They detailed how China achieved its current status and its ongoing plans to enhance its development in the coming decades. Dr. Muhammad Ali Sheikh, former Vice Chancellor of SMIU, underscored the importance of enhancing educational ties between China and Pakistan. He highlighted the success of China’s vocational and technical education programs, which have been key drivers of industrial growth. Dr. Sheikh noted that Pakistan could benefit from China’s model, especially in compulsory education, where China has achieved near-universal enrollment. He concluded that people-to-people connections, particularly through education, will further strengthen the China-Pakistan bond.
In a subsequent media briefing, Consul General Yang Yundong reaffirmed the strong China-Pakistan strategic cooperation, which continues to deepen under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He noted the recent visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to Pakistan, following Prime Minister Shehbaz’s trip to Beijing, as a manifestation of high-level cooperation between the two countries. Yang emphasized that the two sides are committed to strengthening practical cooperation, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Both nations are working to upgrade key infrastructure projects, including the development of major railways, highways, and ports. CG Yang highlighted ongoing projects such as the ML-1 railway upgrade and the Karachi-Hyderabad section, as well as the construction of the Karakoram Highway realignment project. These projects, he stated, will help enhance connectivity within Pakistan and beyond. China, he added, is also focused on improving the development of Gwadar Port, ensuring adequate water and power supply, and accelerating the growth of the port’s industrial zone. The completion of the New Gwadar International Airport, aided by China, is another key milestone in this partnership.
In addition to infrastructure development, both countries are deepening cooperation in areas such as agriculture, mining, energy, information technology, trade, and culture. China supports its companies in investing in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones, and Yang emphasized the need for Pakistan to improve its business environment to attract Chinese investment. China remains committed to supporting Pakistan’s development, particularly in areas like healthcare, agriculture, education, climate response, and disaster prevention. Yang highlighted the importance of the CPEC Working Group on Socio-Economic Cooperation in addressing these key areas and improving the livelihoods of the Pakistani people. Consul General Yang stressed the importance of media cooperation in China-Pakistan relations, noting that it plays a crucial role in enhancing people-to-people exchanges, promoting mutual understanding, and enriching the bilateral relationship. Staff Report
