Pakistan and China have unique democracies based on a people-centered approach: Webinar

Islamabad: Pakistan and China have their unique democracies based on a people-centered approach, speakers said at a webinar.

They maintained that democracy cannot be exported and imposed but it builds with the national ethos of the countries.

Both countries, they observed, have several possibilities in the areas of governance and democracy that can be learned from each other. They noted that through people-centered democracy, Pakistan-China relations will be strengthened together for a shared future.

The webinar was hosted by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and China Non-Governmental Irfanusation for International Exchanges titled “Strengthening Democracy for the People through Development: the Practice of China and Pakistan”.

President of the IPDS, Farhat Asif co-hosted the session along with Liu Lujun, Secretary-General, China NGO Network for International Exchange from China.

In her opening remarks, Farhat Asif shed light on the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies as well as its flagship projects. Both Farhat Asif and Liu Lujun highlighted the significance of the webinar and ways to strengthen cooperation and development through democracy.

In the keynote AI Ping, former Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), Vice President of Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU), said that democracy is not an ornament and should be based on people’s center.

He highlighted China’s whole process of people’s democracy. Speaking on the occasion Ambassador Riaz Khokhar while talking about the achievements of China in terms of democracy lauded the Chinese administration for its inclusive policies and underscored that other countries should take notes from the Chinese model of democracy.

He said Pakistan can learn alot from China to thrive democratic governance structure for progress. Pang Chunxue Charge D Affairs, Embassy of People’s Republic of China to Pakistan spoke about the strengthened cooperation between Pakistan and China.

Former Ambassador of Pakistan to China Naghmana Hashmi highlighted the significant progress that China has made to overcome the challenges of governance and sailed through with a head held high. Senator Mian Ateeq, former Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services Regulation & Coordination, highlighted the challenges of governance in Pakistan and said that there is a way to resolve issues through dialogue.

The webinar further had two important discussion panels. These working sessions were moderated by Liu Lujun, Secretary-General, China NGO Network for International Exchange.

In first session titled “ Democracy that works: framework, ideas and experiences” where Zhang Xiaomeng, Professor and Vice Dean, School of Marxism Studies, Renmin University of China and Prof. Dr. Zahid Anwar, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences & Director, China Study Center, University of Peshawar, spoke and shared their perspectives. In the second session titled “Democratic governance and promotion of development” where Wang Hua, former Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Deputy Secretary-General, China Foundation for Peace and Development, Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chawla, Former Dean and Director, Research Society of Pakistan, Dong Qiang, Professor College of Humanities and Development Studies(COHD), China Agricultural University and Ling Hui, Secretary-General, YouChange China Social Entrepreneur Foundation spoke on the occasion and shared expert opinions.

A large number of students and academicians attended the webinar from different parts of the world. A question/answer session was held at the end.