00:00Fahra Chowdhury is Pakistan's former Minister of Information.
00:04Initially, Pakistan-China relationship were dominated by security.
00:11But after CPAC, and since President Xi has taken over China, it's been 10 years now,
00:17and the initiation of CPAC, these strategic relationships have now taken a very deep economic route also.
00:27So, China has invested heavily in Pakistan.
00:31This CPAC project itself is like a lifeline for Pakistan economy.
00:35And now, this relationship has a very deep security route, but also a very deep economic route.
00:45Even in strategic, you know, I would say industry.
00:49For example, this JF series of planes, the way Pakistan and China has cooperated with each other,
00:57and obviously the kind of boom that has been given in China's defense industry,
01:05by the use of Pakistan of these planes is remarkable evidence of this transformation.
01:10And also, I think, in this new world, where the GCC itself is actually, I will not say that breaking
01:23away,
01:23but certainly there are issues within GCC that will make Gawadar port more important.
01:29And the kind of investment China has had in the CPAC, it is now, for China, it is far more
01:37important than before Iran war.
01:40So, I think this scenario in Pakistan is certainly going towards where China and Pakistan will collaborate with each other,
01:50economically and politically, in a much bigger and broader way.
01:55And if you could talk to me a little bit more about where you see diplomatic opportunities
02:01for China and Pakistan to work together on a global level.
02:07Obviously, you see, first China is a global player, and Pakistan is now certainly a global player.
02:13But if you look at the events given in Iran war, Pakistan has made sure that at every step,
02:21China will be taken into confidence.
02:24So, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister have visited China during these days.
02:31The Freed Marshal Asam Muneer visited China, and they met all the top officials of China,
02:37and they have, you know, kept them in the loop on a daily basis.
02:43This shows the depth of relationship that Pakistan has with China,
02:46and this shows the depth of the diplomatic relationship that Pakistan has with China.
02:53I believe that, you know, even towards a permanent solution of Iran war,
03:00and especially vis-Ă -vis state of humors, China will remain a very key player for Pakistan.
03:06And any settlement that Iran and USA will have, we will have blessing of China,
03:13and that Pakistan is obviously a facilitator and mediator.
03:16But when Pakistan is a facilitator and mediator, I mean, this is forgiven that China will have a very important
03:23say in all this.
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