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 relationship with China and vowed by no means to succumb to stress.
In an interview with China’s English-language state-broadcast China Global Television Network (CGTN), Khan mentioned Pakistan and China get pleasure from a “very special relationship” for over 70 years and that nothing can beat these time-tested ties. Might change, part of which was shared on his Instagram account.
Talking concerning the rising regional rivalry between the US and China, Khan mentioned that “Pakistan feels that it is for the US or other powers – the Western power” to take sides “to countries like ours” within the battle with China. “To pressurize may be very unfair.
“Why should we take sides? We should have good relations with everyone. If Pakistan is pressured to change its ties or reduce its ties with China, it is not going to happen, it will not happen.”
Emphasizing on deepening ties with China, Khan mentioned Pakistan would by no means bow right down to any form of stress. “No matter what happens, our relationship between the two countries – no matter how much pressure is put on us – is not going to change,” he mentioned.
He mentioned a “strange, great rivalry” was happening within the area which was public information.
“You see that the United States is wary of China. The way the United States and China are looking at each other creates problems because what the United States is doing is this regional alliance called the Quad, which is the US, India and some other countries,” Khan mentioned. mentioned.
The Quad or Quadrilateral alliance consisting of the US, India, Japan and Australia is vowing to take care of a rules-based worldwide order within the Indo-Pacific amid rising Chinese assertiveness within the area.
Responding to a query on additional deepen China-Pakistan ties, Khan mentioned either side loved robust political ties, however the ties weren’t restricted to official ties, however had been “people-to-people ties”. individuals relations”.
He mentioned commerce was key to boosting ties sooner or later and termed the US$60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) because the “biggest thing to happen in Pakistan”.
The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province, is a flagship undertaking of China’s bold multi-billion greenback Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Highlighting 70 years of diplomatic relations, Khan mentioned that China has all the time stood by Pakistan, which “always had a very special relationship with China”.
He mentioned that China all the time stands by us every time Pakistan is in battle politically or internationally or with its neighbour, in a transparent reference to India.
“In good occasions, everybody stands by you however in your robust, robust occasions, unhealthy occasions you keep in mind the individuals who stood by you. That is why you will discover that folks in Pakistan have all the time had a particular attachment to the individuals of China.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
