ISLAMABAD: Chinese Academician Prof Victor GAO on Tuesday said China and the US must always be grateful to Pakistan for laying the foundation of China-US relations, which is one of the biggest game-changing events in modern history.

He was speaking at a webinar organised by the Asian Institute of Eco-civilisation Research and Development.

He said he considered Pakistan’s role as a mediator to be a bright example of mediation. On the China-Pakistan relationship, he was of the view that no other country was more important for China than Pakistan.

“Pakistan holds a special place in China’s international relations. China considers Pakistan an iron-clad brother. Regardless of the situation, China will always come forward to help Pakistan safeguard its legitimate interests and sovereignty. China has consistently demonstrated this in its history, particularly during the wars of 1965 and 1971. The most recent war between Pakistan and India can be quoted as another example. China stood by Pakistan’s side shoulder to shoulder,” he said.

Prof. Victor also emphasised that Pakistan’s enemies can never be successful in destabilising the country. He concluded by saying that, since its independence, Pakistan has been a prominent and important geopolitical player, having played a significant role in many pivotal events of modern history.

Zahid Latif Khan, Chairman of AIERD, stated: “Pakistan reciprocates the sentiments of Prof. Victor, while expressing his gratitude to Prof. Victor for delivering a lecture on Pakistan-China relations.”

Mr. Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, CEO of AIERD and moderator, concluded the webinar by saying that the China-Pakistan relationship was unique and traditional theories cannot explain it. He was confident that China and Pakistan would continue to work together to create a community of shared future, which would help the world achieve the goals of prosperity and sustainable peace.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2025