A Chinese scholar and journalist said that his country “desires better relations between Pakistan and Russia”, said a press release issued by the Institute of Regional Studies here on Thursday.
“Pakistan is China’s best friend internationally and Russia is the second best; China would welcome improvement of relationship between its two best friends,” said Prof Zhou Rong, chief of South Asia bureau of the daily Guang Ming.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion at the institute, Prof Rong argued that since India had become a world sought-after country and was gravitating towards the US, the Russians would also be interested in mending fences with the Pakistanis. Prof. Rong said that Pakistan’s fears of Russia are misplaced.
He said that Russia’s reach has shrunk significantly after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 and that it is now far away from Pakistan to threaten it militarily.
He emphasised the need for Pakistan to improve its relations with Russia while putting aside its misplaced fears.
Prof. Rong also said that Pakistan and China need to develop an energy and trade corridor through sea routs and also develop a train route across the Pak-China land border through Xinjiang and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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Even though all of us love bashing the United States, Pakistan can not just go away from USA. Pakistan should improve ties with Russia and all other countries including the US. These are foreign relations not school kids that one has to be a best friend and one the mortal enemy.
I think it is indeed very important to have such a relationship with Russia, also because of the fact that Russia is a friend of all those countries which are not liked by the US(and so Pakistani govt. cannot as well) but Pakistani people like them. like Iran, China, and North Korea. But our leadership well what can i say about them, they will give it attention only when they get their attentions diverted from NRO and memogate issues.
Pak,China,Russia vl b gud frnds. ...
Pakistan + China + Russia is what shakes the West with fear.
Pakistan should become closer to Russia, China, and Iran. Pakistan should move away from America.
I agree Pakistan should improve ties with Russia.