BEIJING:Senator MushahidHussain has praised China for establishing an ‘alternative new global’ order based on equality and justice.
He made these remarks at an International Conference in Beijing organised by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate 70 years of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
The event was attended by over 200 political leaders, scholars, intellectuals, economists, and journalists from more than 50 countries.
Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute and Co-Chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Senator Mushahid also expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping for awarding him the prestigious 5 Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Award.
“China has taken political ownership of the 5 Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which today are the foundation of the new emerging global order,” Mushahid said.
He described President Xi Jinping’s speech at the function as “truly significant, having far-reaching historical significance.”
Mushahid noted the three-fold relevance of the Beijing Conference for contemporary international politics.
First, he highlighted China’s initiative for the 5 Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and its continuity through President Xi Jinping’s vision of a ‘Community for Shared Future for Mankind,’ which he described as visions rooted in Asian wisdom.
Second, he emphasised that this is the first non-Western vision of a new global order that rejects hegemony, militarism, or the diktat of any single power.
Third, he pointed out that the Global South, comprising countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, now represents the world’s majority and supports China’s initiatives.
Mushahid cited examples of China’s contributions to Asian wisdom, such as the philosophies of ‘Seek Truth from Facts’ and ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.’
He added, “China is the only country in history to rise peacefully, without conquest, colonisation, invasion, occupation, or aggression.”
He appealed to the West to discard notions of a New Cold War or ‘containment’ of China, concluding his speech with a quotation from the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius: “Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you.”
Earlier, Senator Mushahid led a group of 30 prominent ‘Friends of China’ who were invited by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
He addressed a special banquet, referencing his over 50-year relationship with China, which began with his first visit as a 17-year-old college student leading a youth friendship delegation in the early 1970s.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that China and Pakistan are determined to take the upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to new heights to advance regional connectivity, integration, and common prosperity, thus forging a new era of growth and development for nations in the region and beyond.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Pakistan in 2015 was a milestone event of epoch-making significance for the development of bilateral relations, leaving me with fond memories and injecting new momentum into enhancing mutual trust and economic cooperation between the two countries.
This visit has also pushed forward the construction of the CPEC to new heights, attracting more Chinese investment into key sectors in Pakistan, creating more job opportunities, stimulating economic growth, and promoting macroeconomic stability and development in my country. There can be no better practice to achieve a vision of common prosperity in the modern era.
“We are thankful to President Xi and the Chinese government for this strong support for Pakistan during challenging times,” the prime minister wrote in an article published by Global Times ahead of his important meeting with the Chinese leadership here.
