ISLAMABAD: There is a pressing need for collaboration and cooperation between the United States and China to tackle emerging global challenges, including traditional and nontraditional security threats.

These remarks were made by speakers at a webinar ‘China-US relations: emerging trends and future perspectives’, organised by the Centre for BRI and China Studies at the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies.

They emphasised the critical importance of building bridges and fostering dialogue between these two influential nations to address the complex issues facing the world today. It was stressed that in an increasingly interconnected world, collaboration and joint efforts between the two nations were imperative to effectively tackle complex global issues such as climate change, public health crises, technological advancements and economic stability.

There is a shared belief that bridging the divide and forging strong cooperation between the US and China is not only beneficial for both the nations but also essential for the collective well-being of the international community.

Academics and experts from China and Pakistan shared their views and understandings about the ongoing challenges in US-China relations.

Dr Farhat Asif, founder and President Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, in her opening remarks said in these times when the lines were blurred, there was a need to indulge in a dialogue to understand the ongoing US-China relations.

Prof Cheng Xizhong, Senior Fellow of the Charhar Institute, Visiting Professor at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and Director of the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, explained China’s firm stance on issues and challenges between US and China, especially the growing military provocation from the US in the region.

He said there was a need to enhance the sense of mutual respect, win-win cooperation and peaceful co-existence as preconditions for US-China cooperation.

Dr Munawar Hussain, Assistant Professor Area Study Centre for Africa, North and South America at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, adopted an academic stance of expressing insights by comparative analysis of the work of Chinese and American scholars.

He said there was a need for collaboration between the two most important countries on global issues, including climate change and pandemics.

Prof Zhou Rong, Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Study of Renmin University, China, said owing to the economic interdependence between China and US, war was unlikely between the two nations but the prospects for a cold war were high.

He said the US-China decoupling was not of a traditional economy but of a neo-economy based on technology.

Dr Tahir Mumtaz Awan, Director at China Study Centre, Comsats University Islamabad, explained the difference between US-China world views.

He said China had made its global contribution to development through various initiatives and always refrained from interfering in the internal matters of other countries. He also alluded to the positive role that Pakistan can play regarding US-China relations.

Dr Rashid Aftab, Director of Riphah Institute of Public Policy, said that there was a strong need for the US and China to adopt policies of cooperation instead of confrontation.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2023