‘Sino-Pak ties bolstering regional peace’

LAHORE:The first round of discussion between the Lahore Council for World Affairs (LCWA) and the visiting scholars of the China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) was held at the Lahore Gymkhana here Monday.

According to a press release, the delegation of CFAU, comprising Prof Shi Yi, Dean, Department of English and International Studies, Prof Gao Shangtao, Institute of International Relations, and Prof Ren Yuanzhe, Department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs Management, is visiting Pakistan this week at the invitation of LCWA, a Lahore-based think tank. The Consulate General of China in Lahore was also represented at the discussion.

Ambassador Javid Husain, President LCWA, welcoming the Chinese delegation said that in-depth exchange of views between the two sides on bilateral, regional and global issues would lead to a better understanding of respective perceptions and expectations and engender fresh ideas on developing new avenues in bilateral cooperation.

Prof Shi Yi warmly reciprocated the sentiments and expressed her views on Pakistan-China relations with particular reference to the strategic and economic importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and gave her assessment on the progress achieved so far. She spoke highly of the exemplary relations between Pakistan and China and said CPEC was a concrete manifestation of these ties.

Giving his views, Ambassador Javid Husain emphasised that Pakistan-China friendship was a source of strength to regional peace and stability besides being in the best interest of the two countries. He pointed out that CPEC, as a sheet anchor in the development of Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation, had the potential of having a very positive impact on the socio-economic landscape of Pakistan and the region as a whole.

The afternoon session was devoted to exchange of views on the current situation in South Asian region with particular reference to the growing Indo-US strategic cooperation and the rise of Hindutva in India. The Chinese side giving its views referred to the importance of peace and stability as a prerequisite for socio-economic development and expressed concern over the increasing tension in the region because of the grave situation in the Indian-Held Kashmir. Implications of growing Indo-US strategic relations and possible implications for the region were also touched upon.

Ambassador Shahid Malik, former Pakistan High Commissioner to India, gave a detailed account of the deteriorating security and human rights situation in IHK, rise in Hindu nationalism in India, and its expansionist designs under the Hindutva doctrine.

The two sides exchanged views on ways to address the emerging challenges to peace and security and options for the resolution of root causes of tensions in South Asia, especially the Kashmir dispute.

UVAS convocation: The 11th convocation of the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (UVAS) will be held on December 12.

In this regard UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani chaired the 2nd meeting of conveners and secretaries of subcommittees for the convocation on Monday and reviewed preparation/arrangements for the convocation. The full dress rehearsal for the convocation will be held on December 11.

Chancellor/ Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar will preside over the convocation in which graduates of DVM, BS (Hons), Pharm-D, Doctors of Nutrition and Dietetics (DND), MBF, BBA (Hons), MBA, MSc, MPhil and PhD will receive their degrees while position winning graduates will be awarded medals.