Pakistan, China relationship evaluated in the light of shared futures, trust and friendship

• Dr. Talat Shabbir’s landmark book “Creating Shared Futures Pakistan-China: A Journey of Trust and Friendship” launched. Scholars, Diplomats and Public Policy Experts Lauds the Research Book and Terms it as Important Academic Contribution to Understand the Pakistan China Relationship.  

ISLAMABAD, MAY 2021: The relationship between China and Pakistan has been researched and documented by Dr. Talat Shabbir in the context of futures possibilities and options in the book “Creating Shared Futures, Pakistan China: A Journey of Trust and Friendship”. The book was launched today at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad.

The launch event was organized jointly by Eurasian Century Institute and Mishal Pakistan, the launch was attended by a small group of intellectuals and research enthusiasts to listen to the leading scholars in Pakistan. Due to Covid SOPs the event was also participated by a large number through Zoom. The event was also streamed live on YouTube and Facebook for international participation.

In his forward, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan has said, “Dr. Talat Shabbir’s book is a brilliant and timely discourse on the multifaceted partnership and what it means for both the countries going forward. He has traced the history of this relationship since its inception and where we stand today.  He has brought forth the various facets of these ties ranging from diplomatic, political, economic, to strategic.

The Foreign Minister further said that, “the book will be a valuable record and useful reading for all students of history and contemporary international relations and will help them to delve deeper into what is easily one of the most fascinating, consequential and forward-looking partnerships of our times.”

Speaking on the occasion, Director General ISSI said, “Dr. Talat has demonstrated his commitment to furthering the Pakistan-China relationship. His book argues one element stands out i.e., trust, a very rare state of mutual trust that any two neighbors enjoy”. Meanwhile, he highlighted that in recent years, people of both countries have tried to cross the barrier of language and culture, as today “Chinese universities are attracting most Pakistani students”, and as a nation “we can learn from Chinese wisdom”.

Former Minister for Defense, Lt. General Naeem Khalid Lodhi, remarked that, “Dr. Shabbir’s book shows that whatever happened in the world, the bond between Pakistan and China kept deepening and strengthened. And this is a unique feature of the bilateral relationship”.

Former Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid said, “Dr. Talat has aptly captured the essence of bilateral relationship. This relationship has withstood the test of time and both sides have continued to support each other during their respective testing times. It is indeed a unique model in inter-state relationships.”

Professor Song Zhihui of the Pakistan Study Center, Sichuan University, while expressing his thoughts, said, “It is a scholarly work backed by evidence-based research. He noted that in current times, CPEC is very significant for Pakistan and China, and both sides will continue to work on this in the second phase hoping to focus on industrial development in Pakistan”.

Pakistan’s leading futures research scientist, Puruesh Chaudhary, President AGAHI said, “‘This book to a great degree captures the relationship between Pakistan and China, Dr. Talat quite uniquely enables a reader to imagine how many possibilities are there to emerge as an outcome. Pakistan and China in years to come would have greater responsibility towards ensuring social justice’ 

Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors, ISSI said, “Dr. Shabbir has given an objective account of Pakistan-China relationship. His book is timed with 70th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China relations and 100th anniversary of founding of Communist Party of China. It is a unique friendship as we do not share culture, language, economic systems and have different ideological mooring. Yet despite that relationship has only deepened.”

The book, Creating Shared Futures, Pakistan China: A Journey of Trust and Friendship, is authored by Dr. Talat Shabbir, a well-known scholar on Pakistan-China relations, Dr. Shabbir holds a PhD in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.  Dr. Shabbir is Director China-Pakistan Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, overseeing research and advocacy on all facets of Pakistan-China relations. His areas of interest include Pakistan, South Asia, Belt and Road Initiative, and China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The book is an observation and an analysis of the relationship of the two nations from 1947 to today. It also talks about the possible futures that can be created if the policy makers make certain choices in a definite time frame. The book also contains an epilogue on the post COVID-19 global scenario, where the friendship of the two countries has been tested on social, economic, and political grounds due to international pressures and demands.

Dr. Talat has been a visiting scholar at Sigur Centre for Asian Studies, George Washington University, USA. He has been on the faculty of Institute of Strategic Studies Research and Analysis (ISSRA), National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, where he was part of the team conducting national security workshop and national media workshop.

Besides editing a quarterly magazine for China-Pakistan Study Centre, he regularly contributes to newspapers on domestic, regional, and global issues and participates in panel discussions on various TV channels to address regional and global issues. Dr. Shabbir has also published a book of Urdu short stories and a collection of Urdu poetry.

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