Prime Minister Imran Khan mentioned on Tuesday that Pakistan was beneath “pressure” from the US and different Western powers over his nation’s all-weather ties with China and vowed to by no means buckle beneath stress.
Pakistan and China take pleasure in a “very special relationship” spanning over 70 years and nothing might change these time-tested ties, Khan mentioned in an interview with China’s English-language state-broadcaster China Global Television Network (CGTN), an excerpt of which was shared on his Instagram account.
Talking in regards to the evolving regional rivalry between the US and China, Khan mentioned that “Pakistan thinks it is very unfair for the US or other powers – western power” to pressurise “countries like us to take sides” in a battle with China.
“Why should we take sides? We should have good relations with everyone. It is not going to happen if pressure is put on Pakistan to change its relationship or downgrade its relationship with China, it wouldn’t happen,” Khan mentioned.
Emphasising the deep relationship with China, Khan mentioned that Pakistan would by no means bend beneath any type of stress. “Whatever will happen, our relationship between the two countries – no matter what pressure is put on us – is not going to change,” he mentioned.
He mentioned that there was a “strange, great rivalry” happening within the area which was public information.
“You see the United States being wary of China. The way United States and China are looking at each other creates problems because what the United States is doing is it’s formed this regional alliance called the Quad, which is US, India and a couple of other countries,” Khan mentioned.
The Quad or Quadrilateral alliance consisting of the US, India, Japan and Australia has been resolving to uphold a rules-based worldwide order within the Indo-Pacific amid rising Chinese assertiveness within the area.
Responding to a query about learn how to additional deepen Sino-Pakistan ties, Khan mentioned that the 2 sides loved sturdy political ties however the relationship was not solely restricted to official relations but it surely was additionally “people to people relationship”.
He mentioned commerce was necessary to extend ties in future and termed the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) because the “biggest thing happening in Pakistan”.
The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province, is the flagship undertaking of China’s bold multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Highlighting the 70 years of diplomatic ties, Khan mentioned China at all times stood with Pakistan, which “always had a very special relationship with China”.
He mentioned that China “always stood with us” at any time when Pakistan was in hassle politically or internationally or in a battle with its neighbour, in an obvious reference to India.
“In good times, everyone stands with you but in your difficult, tough times, bad times, you remember those people who stood by you. That’s why you will find that in Pakistan, people always have a special fondness for people in China,” he mentioned.
