ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing on Monday lauded Pakistan’s role in the promotion of peace and prosperity in the region and said it is a key partner in the One Belt One Road Project.

Speaking at a discussion on regional cooperation organised by the Institute of Regional Studies at the Institute of Strategic Studies, the Chinese envoy said China wanted to end the recent trade and tariff issue with America.

He added that the Chinese economy made remarkable progress during 2015-16 and that the One Belt One Road Project was initiated to integrate the whole region.

“China believes in the integration of the region,” he added, and that Pakistan has played an important role in this regard.

Mr Jing said Pakistan has played an important role in ECO, SCO and Saarc and added that Pakistan and China will play an important role in regional cooperation.

He added that Pakistan and India are both important neighbours for China which wants to promote trade with its neighbours.

Caretaker Information Minister Barrister Ali Zafar said Pakistan is a victim of terrorism and that all countries were responsible for contributing towards the eradication of terrorism. He also deplored the brutalities of the Indian army in Indian-held Kashmir.

“We want to improve regional cooperation involving China, Russia and other nations,” he said.

Former Senator Farhatullah Babar regional integration is not possible as long as regional trade is sacrificed for so-called security.

Mr Babar said Pakistan needs to follow the Chinese model whose trade with India had crossed over $100 billion despite serious political issues between them.

“Some elements also fear that if there is peace in the region, it will challenge their predominance in the business of the state,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2018