With the collaboration of the Chinese Embassy, the Center for Knowledge and Public Policy, Department of Journalism Studies and Department of Communication and Research University of Punjab New Campus jointly held the first ever certificate Program/Workshop on Wednesday during which 50 MPhil & MS and Ph.D. students, media persons, researchers and scholar rigorously participated.It was a historic event in Pakistan, showing the strategic importance of the corridor of knowledge between two iron-clad countries.
In his keynote speech Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, President: The Center for Knowledge and Public Policy proudly announced this was the first ever certificate program on Xi’s Global Initiatives of Development, Security, Civilization and Governance in the world clearly demonstrating outstanding efforts of his center to project the real essence, reasons and importance of these global initiatives in the world.
Dr Khan underscored the strategic significance of these global initiatives and termed it pro-development, prosperity, connectivity and humanity through rule of the law, justice, good global governance, economic globalization, constructive international cooperation, modernization and openness. He also dubbed these initiatives as ideal means of peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue, diplomacy and development based on Xi’s global shared prosperity.
He further elaborated that these holistic and comprehensive conceptual and contextual frameworks have deepened the pace of equitable development, socio-economic prosperity, enhanced dialogue of civilization and brighten the prospects of law based global order through holistic and comprehensive policies and plans in which inclusiveness model of development and mutual learning, respect, tolerance, interfaith harmony would play an important role.
Dr Khan precisely discussed salient features of each Xi’s global initiative i.e. Global Development Initiative (GDI) which he dubbed as an ideal platform for socio-economic prosperity and community development worldwide. Over the past three years, it has vigorously pursued development, promoted shared growth and accelerated the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Additionally, Dr Khan explained that Xi’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) aimed to institutionalize human, economic, social, political and environmental security by promoting peaceful conflict resolution, fostering dialogue and diplomacy and encouraging global harmony. It builds political consensus to counter geopolitical tensions and Cold War mindsets, while upholding constructive neutrality, the rule of law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, he further added.
Moreover, the prominent sinologist expressed his expert views on the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) and also Xi’s Global Governance Initiative vividly reflected the spirit of compassion, coordination and collaboration through dialogue, diplomacy and development among different civilizations.
Dr Khan concluded that the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) was the first “giant” step towards achieving global equality, enhancing the role of the developing countries and last but not least, further strengthening of the international system based on equality and justice which would be the first big “systematic” step towards achieving a “strategic equilibrium” in the working, efficacy and productivity of the international world order, catering to the genuine causes and concerns of the developing countries. Thus, it would be supportive to GDI, GSI and GCI further transforming communities, countries and continents in the world, he further added.
Prof. Dr. Mian Hanan Ahmad, Chairperson Journalism Studies, Department of Journalism Studies delivered a comprehensive speech about Xi’s Global Initiatives and stressed its importance in the rapidly changing regional as well as global geopolitics inching towards new world disorder.
Prof Mian disseminated the message of hope, harmony, productivity, positivity and participation derived from Xi’s Global Initiatives guaranteeing regional stability, global peace, and mutual respect for sovereignty and personal dignity.
Chairperson Dr Hanan concluded that Xi’s global initiatives would steer the Global South and all developing countries towards greater connectivity, prosperity, modernization and quality development. He advised all the students not to believe in the Western false and fake national narratives targeting China and its numerous policies.
Prof Dr Noshina Saleem Chairperson: Department of Communication and Media research showcased Xi’s Global Civilization which advocated respect for civilizational diversity, common human values, civilizational inheritance and innovation and stronger cultural exchange. Dr Noshina termed it as a major public good following the GDI and GSI which called for deeper dialogue and mutual learning to advance human civilization and contribute Chinese wisdom to global cooperation. It promoted economic development and civilizational diversity, aligning with UNESCO’s mission to foster respect for cultures worldwide, especially those with outstanding universal value, she further added.
The Chairperson concluded that the GCI promoted the real traits of humanity, human values, harmony through multiculturalism and ethnic diversity in the world.
While Zulkafil Hassan Khan, Executive Director: The Center for Knowledge and Public Policy shared his view about Xi’s Global Security Initiatives and highlighted its various aspects and shades creating win-win propositions for all. Zulkafil emphasized on the nationalization of the GSI because of emerging socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic conflicting scenarios in the Middle East, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa.
The scholar narrated that the GSI underpinned by “six commitments”, specifically, commitment to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; abiding by the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter; taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously; peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation; and maintaining security in both traditional and nontraditional domains.
He further mentioned that Xi’s GSI aimed to replace “confrontation, alliance and a zero-sum approach with meaningful dialogue, sustained partnership and befitting propositions. He strongly rejected the Western media propaganda against the Xi’s GSI and termed it anti-Asian security architecture, especially the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) and AUKUS (a trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the US) under the Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework.
The Executive Director concluded that the GSI through its continuous fostering and implementation, has emerged as a “new normal” for regional integration and global socio-economic connectivity by addressing and removing obstacles to development.
Over the past three years, the GSI has functioned as a vital public good endorsed by over 120 countries earning broad support and proving its contemporary relevance and practical value in advancing peace, human development, he further added. Moreover, he shared that the GSI aimed to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, improve global security governance, encourage joint international efforts to bring more stability and certainty to a volatile and changing era, and promote durable peace and development in the world and Indian attack was “blatant effort” to start “New Mahabharata Epic” in the modern world of logic, wisdom and peaceful co-existence.
Interestingly, the event also had an interactive A&Q session during which students asked their questions about the so-called debt trap narrative of the West, South China Sea, CPEC Phase II, Gwadar, and last but not least, current status of Pak-Sino ties. Responding to these questions Dr Khan explained every aspect and warned the students not to blindly follow the Western biased and politically hyped media campaigns against China and its mega projects like CPEC, and BRI. He also clarified that China’s foreign policy has been based on mutual respect, decency and peaceful conflict resolution and its 5000 ancient history vividly reflected its wisdom and actions thus he negated all these wrong notions.
Certificates of participation were also delivered to participating students, researchers, scholars and media persons. Last but not least, Certificates of Honor were also given to all the speakers of this historic event.
