By Dr. Syed Mehboob
Research Scholar, Analyst
http//:www.thenewslark.com
Youth are the real asset of any nation. Pakistan is a fortunate and rich in that sense that its more than sixty percent population consists on youth. These youth are highly charged, energetic, talented and if they are rightly guided they can turn Pakistan into a dignified and developed nation. The News Lark Karachi under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Jawed Malik is committed to highlight Pakistan and friendly countries positive image and link youth with international community. I am as, Senior Research Editor, The News Lark Alhamdilillah, rendering valuable services doing research and have written hundreds of articles, reports and analysis on friendly countries and received awards from consulates of seven countries.
Pakistan China friendship is greater than Himalaya, deeper than oceans and sweeter than honey. It is historical, time tested, all weathered. I heard the story of China from my mother when I was a child then the great efforts and struggle of China and its achievements. Now we are living in a world which is globally connected and no country can survive in condition of isolation. I have planned to create awareness among our youth and to introduce them into diplomatic circle. I am highly thankful to His Excellency Mr. Yang Yungdong honorable consul general of China in Karachi, Mr. Jawed Ahmed Malik, Chief Editor the News Lark, Karachi who liked my idea and fully cooperated.
Friday 27th October, 2023 was a historical day when I took a delegation of O Level Senior Cambridge students of Karachi Public School, Safavi Campus to Chinese Consulate. I am extremely thankful to Madam Yasmeen Rajbhoy, Director Karachi Public School who encouraged this initiative and permitted me to take this historical step. Students were warmly welcomed by His Excellency Yang Yundong, Mr. Xie Shuye, Mr. Chen Junjie and other staff members of Chinese Consulate.
In his brief address by His Excellency Mr. Yang Yundong Consul General of Brotherly country China said that Pakistan China friendship is historical one and these relations are time-tested and all weathered. He further said that China is a partner of development and prosperity of Pakistan. He praised the initiative taken by Dr. Syed Mehboob to transform these relations into the hearts and minds of Pakistani youth and said this visit would pave the way for strengthening ties between two countries and create great awareness among youth about China and its strong, reliable and trusted friendship with Pakistan. He showed great kindness towards youth and replied their questions and provide great detail of various aspects of Pakistan China Friendship and latest development in this regard.
I, on the occasion highlighted the various aspects of Pakistan China friendship and its importance for the people of both countries. I said that Pakistan and China friendship is greater than Himalaya and deeper than oceans. I further said that China is a friend in need and friend indeed. China believes in investment, trade, sharing resources, transferring technologies and expertise into its friend countries. It never interferes into the internal matters, culture or religion of friendly countries. It is indeed a friend not a master. Pakistan and Pakistani trust this friend. I announced that we are going to form “Pakistan China Youth Friendship Forum (PCYFF) to engage youth to utilities their talent, skills to learn the art of international and diplomatic relations and to promote Pakistan China friendship.
Karachi Public Schools’ students Qirat Shezad, Uzma Saleem, Benazir Zulfiqar, Aleena, Areesha, Samreen and Vanshika spoke on the occasion and thanked His Excellency CG China for providing this unique and great opportunity to them. They said that they are committed to promote Pakistan China friendship and will play very active role on PCYFF. Others in delegation Bryen, Huzaifa, Abdul Rafey, Hiba, Zainab, Syed Muhammad Atyab were also present on the occasion and they described this visit a historical one. They pledged that they will play their due role in promoting Pakistan and China Friendship on the platform of “Pakistan China Youth Friendship Forum (PCYFF)”
On this occasion Mr. Xie Shuye gave presentation on an Overview of China and China’s BRI by Chen Junjie and China’s Modernization by Mr. Lyu Touzu. The students were very impressed by the hospitality of Chinese Consulate and the information provided by it was amazing. It was informed to the students that Chins Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) brought a massive US$ 25.4 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), $ 175.5 billion in terms of Revenue, US$ 212 million tax income and generated 236,000 direct employment.
The students were informed that China is a country in East Asia. It is the world’s most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion, covering about 9.6 million square kilometers. It is the world’s third largest state by area.
China is the factory of the world. In 1970 its global production contribution was only 3% now it is 25%, it is exporting to about 200 countries and producing about 80% of world’s air conditioners, 70 % mobiles, 60% shoes, 74% solar sales, 60 % cement, 50% coal, 45% ship building, 50% steel, is being produced by just one country “CHINA”. It is also astonishing that about 50% apples are produced by China while USA which is second in rank only produces 7 % apples of the world. It is now the world’s largest economy with GDP of $ 30.18 trillion (PPP). It is also the largest exporter of the world with $ 2.2 trillion export. It is normally thought that China can only produce cheap goods but people are highly surprised when they are told that 60% of the most branded luxurious items are produced in China. In 1970s it was poorer than African countries. In 1978 its per capita was just $ 155 dollars while it jumped to $ 7,590 which is 49 times increase. It lifted more than 800 million people from poverty. Its mass production policies destroyed the price structure of most of the world’s famous companies and countries. It has competitive edge over many countries due to its mass scale production. Its workforce is highly trained, efficient, active, vibrant and experienced. China is the largest economy in the world by PPP since 2014, the world’s second largest economy by nominal GDP Nominal since 2010, and the largest economy in Eurasia. Since the introduction of economic reforms in 1978, China’s economy has been the world’s fastest growing major economy, with annual growth rate consistently above 10%. According to the World Bank China’s GDP grew $ 150 billion in 1978 to US$ 12.24 trillion by 2017. China also recorded the fastest rise in GDP per capita in the world from 1960 to 2018. China is the largest exporter and second largest importer of the world after America. One of the world’s foremost infrastructural giants China has the world’s largest bullet train network, the most super tall skyscrapers in the world. China borders with 14 countries, more than any other country except Russia.
China borders with Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma) in South East Asia, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in south Asia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia and Russia, Malaysia and North Korea in Inner Asia and North East Asia. China shares Maritime boundaries with South Korea. China is the largest manufacturer of the world, 2nd high tech manufacturing since 2012, it is the second largest retail market in the world, it leads world in e commerce accounting 50% of the global market in the world. It is also world leader in the electric vehicles, manufacturing and buying half of the entire plug in electric cars in the world. China has 174 GW of installed solar capacity by the end of 2018, which amounts more than 40% of the global solar capacity. China became the world’s largest trading nation in 2013 as measured by the sum of imports and exports; it is also the world’s largest commodity importer about 45% of Maritime’s dry bulk market. By 2016 China was the largest trading partner of 124 countries. It is the largest trading partner of ASEAN comprising 15.2 % of ASEAN’s total trade. In 2020, China became the largest trading partner of the European Union for goods, having the total volume of US$ 700 billion. China along with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, is a member of the Regional Compressive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free-trade area covering 30% of the world’s population and economic output. Chinese African trade volume crossed US$ 210 billion having grown more than 20 times over two decades. According to Madison Condon, “China finances more infrastructure projects in African than the World Bank, providing low interest loans to African countries. China is the largest trading partner with Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina etc. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has expended significantly over the last five years and as of April 2020, includes 138 countries and 30 international organizations. Maritime Silk Road is another significant initiative which connects to East Africa, Europe and other areas and investment in Gwadar, Kuantan, Hambantota, Piraeus and Trieste.
The Students were very happy by this trip and described this as unforgettable and said that they are proud on Pakistan China Friendship and pledged their commitment they will continue their efforts under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Syed Mehboob to promote Pakistan China Friendship.
