Common ally: China lauded for avoiding global conflicts

Speakers at a seminar say neighbour’s foreign policy driven by philosophy of avoiding conflicts and concentration.

ISLAMABAD:

Panellists at a discussion on China’s global role said the country is increasing its influence in the region and the world while staying clear of global conflicts.

They were speaking at a seminar on “Changing Dynamics in Global Power Structure and Role of China” at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute on Monday.



Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi said China has never been aggressive in the last three decades and has played a moderating role in promoting global peace and economy. He said China has been an inward-looking country with a very important and remarkable history of economic transformation. “The scale of transformation—both visible and invisible—through which it is moving has no match in recent history.”

Fatemi was of the view that Chinese foreign policy was driven by the philosophy of avoiding conflicts under all circumstances and concentrating on economic growth and stability. He observed that China wants to be a team player rather than a team disrupter, adding that it wishes to play a role less than it is capable of. “It seeks not to ruffle feathers.”

The last six decades have been remarkable for China, he said, adding that the first three were spent in bringing reforms in the country and over 500 million people were pulled out of poverty. In addition, China is today an economy which controls global economy, he added.

The premier’s adviser said China stood by Pakistan many times and that all Pakistani leaders, regardless of their political affiliation, realise this good critical relationship with China and continued it in their respective tenures.



China has interdependent economy, technology, environment and that is why larger powers settle their issues with it peacefully, he said, adding that the country was bringing reforms in a way that other privileged countries are not disturbed.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA from Karachi, Dr Arif Alvi, admired Chinese policies on population management, economic growth and stability. “China has transformed its large population, which was burdensome to its food security, into an asset of cheap labour driving economic development.”

Additionally, China has exerted itself as a military power and has the second highest defence budget in the world, said Alvi. He added that global economic and political security was in China’s best interest because China is the centre of an economic triangle linking resource-rich developing countries and consumer-abundant developed nations.

“In this triangle, China is playing a key role in changing raw materials from developing countries to manufactured products that are exported to the developed world.”



Pakistan People’s Party Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira Qamar Zaman Kaira appreciated the dominance China was experiencing due to its economic power rather than political one. He said that China was building the army but leading with economy. “They are driving the world through economy.”

He said that China was not only growing but its growth was also driving the economic growth of the world. Kaira said that China has supported Pakistan when no other nation or international body could stand for us due to their limitations and constraints and it was time not only to get benefits but learn from China.

Kaira said that growing economies have so many challenges but BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) bank will bring changes to the world. “It (BRICS bank) will be a game changer.”

Commenting on the postponed visit of the Chinese president, Kaira said the proposed projects will not be cancelled and will come along but it would have been better if the Chinese president had visited Pakistan while visiting the rest of the region.

The speakers said Gwadar and other major Pak-China projects will create job opportunities and boost economic growth in the region. China is not only concerned about the region’s economic prosperity but also international peace, especially with regards to its neighbouring countries, they concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2014.