Book Launch: CHINA'S STORIES, CHINA'S SUCCESS: HOW CHINA TRANSFORMED IN THE PAST 40 YEARS
Source : Pakistan-China Institute Date : 18-03-2016
 |
The Pakistan-China Institute and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, jointly held a book launch ceremony for S. M. Hali’s eagerly anticipated firsthand account on the transformation of China, on Friday, 18th March. Titled, “China’s Stories, China’s Success: How China Transformed in the Past 40 Years”, the book is an analytical discourse on China, spread over four decades of observations made by the author.
The ceremony featured a panel of high-profile speakers, which included Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, Senator Mushahid Hussain, and H.E. the Ambassdor of China, Mr. Sun Weidong. In his address to the august gathering of policymakers, bureaucrats, diplomats, and military personnel, the minister commended S. M. Hali’s book for laying out the principles of Chinese development. Discussing the government’s efforts to benefit from and catch pace with China’s success through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he described political stability and social harmony as the prerequisites for socioeconomic development. The Minister added that Pakistan’s strengthening democracy and its citizens’ unwavering support for China are the driving forces behind CPEC, and have brought the project from mere signatures on paper to investments worth $46 billion that are now taking shape on-ground.
Senator Mushahid Hussain, who is also the Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, expressed his appreciation for S.M. Hali, his work, and the guests present at the launch. He described Hali’s book as being close to his own observation of China over the last 40 years. Commending the author for his scrupulous reflection of China’s history and intricate study of its developmental course, the Senator discussed how China embarked on a new course of success under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, and deliberated on China’s initiative to reach out to the world as part of its long-term plan for regional cooperation. The 21st century is the Asian century, he stated, which is symbolized by the bilateral cooperation between our two countries, and stands as a guarantee for our prosperous future.
In his remarks, S. M. Hali recalled his first visit to China in 1974, whereby, upon arriving in Urumqi as a Pilot Officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), he and his crew members were warmly received amid slogans of “Long Live Pakistan-China Friendship”. A veteran of the force, Mr. Hali was also the founding director of PAF’s Public Relations department, which equipped him for a prosperous post-military service career in Pakistan’s print and electronic media. He stated that his 10 years in journalism had reaffirmed for him the fact that, unlike other countries, China and Pakistan are cooperating without ulterior motives and the Chinese and Pakistani people have genuine love for each other. The author talked about China’s growth policies in agricultural, industrial, commercial, and technological fields, and traced important learning for Pakistan to stride further.
In his address, Ambassador Sun Weidong reminded the audience that China’s growth has been premised upon its openness to the world, and stressed that no country can achieve prosperity with closed doors. He expressed that the ultimate dream of China’s leadership is to rejuvenate the great Chinese people with economic strength and social harmony; and that as close friends of Pakistan, it wishes the same for the Pakistani populace. To achieve that, he stated, the need of the time is to stand by the leadership of both countries and support them in efforts pertinent to the CPEC. Stating his views on S. M. Hali’s book, the ambassador praised it for accurately capturing the essence of China’s development, and expressed the need for such works to engage the people of China and Pakistan in mutual learning.
Chairman of ISSI’s Board of Governors, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood discussed that despite having different languages, cultures, and religions, the Chinese and Pakistani people stand by each other on the shared principles of social solidarity and peaceful coexistence. He anticipated a crucial role that S. M. Hali’s book would play by taking Pakistanis beyond China’s friendship with Pakistan and helping them understand more about China itself.
The Director General of ISSI, Ambassador Masood Khan presented concluding remarks, mentioning how China had brought us all together on that specific day just the way it has been doing over the 65 years of Sino-Pak diplomatic ties. Commending the author’s intellectual rigor that had shaped observations into a book, he wished S. M. Hali the best for future endeavors, and opened the floor for a Question & Answers session, allowing direct interaction between the panelists and guests. The questions enriched the discussion into multiple facets of Sino-Pak relations and extended well into the high-tea gathering that followed.