'Interdependence with China key to our progress'

Pakistan-China relations have evolved into a strong strategic partnership due to mutual trust, non-interference and shared geopolitical interests, with economic and technological cooperation serving as key drivers of Pakistan's future socio-economic transformation.

In a bid to reap the benefits of this partnership, Pakistan needs a policy shift by transforming dependence into interdependence and investing in strengthening governance, human capital and institutional professionalism.

These were the key points made during a seminar titled 'Pakistan-China Relations at 75: Advancing Multidimensional Partnership for Regional Stability and Shared Prosperity' held at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.

The speakers at the session, which celebrated the platinum jubilee of Pakistan-China relations, included IPS vice-chairman Syed Abrar Hussain, former ambassador to China Salman Bashir, former foreign secretary and session chair, Masood Khalid, former ambassadors Naghmana Hashmi and Moin ul Haque and strategic affairs expert Dr Syed Muhammad Ali.

In the opening remarks, Abrar Hussain said that Pakistan-China relations have evolved substantially since the establishment of bilateral ties in May 1951. He emphasised that this partnership has now entered a new phase with continued cooperation under both phases of CPEC, demonstrating the growing engagement between the two countries.