By TDI(the Diplomatic Insight, Pakistan)--March 26, 2022

 

Beijing/Islamabad, 24 March 2022 (TDI): Democracy cannot be exported and imposed but builds with the countries’ national ethos. Pakistan and China have their unique democracies based on a people-centric approach.

 

Both states have several possibilities in the areas of governance and democracy that can be learned from each other. Through people-centric democracy, Pakistan-China relations will be strengthened together for a shared future.

 

These were the remarks of the distinguished speakers of the Webinar hosted by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and China NGO Network for International Exchange on “Strengthening Democracy for the People through Development: the Practice of China and Pakistan”. The Webinar was attended by high profiled speakers including academics from both China and Pakistan.

 

President of the IPDS, Farhat Asif co-hosted the session along with Liu Lujun, Secretary-General, China NGO Network, and International Exchange from China.

 

In her opening remarks, Farhat Asif shed light on the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies as well as its flagship projects. Where Liu Lujun has explained the vision and mission of the China NGO Network for International Exchange (CNIE).

 

Both Farhat Asif and Liu Lujun highlighted the significance of the webinar and ways to strengthen cooperation & development via democracy.

 

In the keynote AI Ping, former Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), Vice President of Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU), said that democracy is not an ornament and should be people-centric. He highlighted China’s whole process of people’s democracy.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Riaz Khokhar while talking about the achievements of China in terms of democracy lauded the Chinese administration for its inclusive policies and underscored that other countries should take notes from the Chinese model of democracy. He said Pakistan can learn a lot from China for a thriving democratic governance structure.

 

While highlighting Pakistan-China’s strong bond, Pang Chunxue, Chargé d’affaires, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China spoke about the strengthened cooperation between Iron brothers, especially in the backdrop of the recent high-level visit of the Foreign Minister of China. She added that CPEC is thriving with leaps and bounds reflecting Pakistan and China’s strong bond.

 

Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to China and EU highlighted the significant progress that China has made to overcome the challenges of governance and sailed through with a head held high.

 

Senator Mian Ateeq, former Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services Regulation & Coordination, highlighted the challenges of governance in Pakistan and said that there is a way to resolve issues through dialogue.

 

The Webinar further had two important discussion panels. Liu Lujun, Secretary-General, China NGO Network for International Exchange from China, moderated these working sessions.

 

In the first session titled “ Democracy that works: framework, ideas, and experiences” where Zhang Xiaomeng,  Prof. and Vice Dean, School of Marxism Studies, Renmin University of China, and Prof. Dr. Zahid Anwar, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences & Director, China Study Center, University of Peshawar, spoke and shared their perspectives.

 

In the second session titled “Democratic governance and promotion of development”, Wang Hua, former Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Deputy Secretary-General, China Foundation for Peace and Development, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chawla, Director, Research Society of Pakistan, Dong Qiang, Professor at College of Humanities and Development Studies(COHD), China Agricultural University and Ling  Hui, Secretary-General, YouChange China Social Entrepreneur Foundation spoke on the occasion and shared expert opinions.

 

The webinar was attended by many students and academicians from different parts of the world. A question/answer session was held at the end.