Latest news with #Pakistan-China
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gaming the dragon
India needs a sophisticated China playbook SCO defence ministers' meet showcased the Pakistan-China nexus, which mainly focused on undermining India's stand on terrorism. The proposed joint statement was opposed by India after it was found that Pakistan, with China's complicity, was blocking mention of the Pahalgam terror attack but was pushing for inclusion of 'terrorist activities' in Balochistan and the situation in Kashmir. This would have been shocking were it not part of a well-established tactic. But, as familiar as it is, it should certainly inform the ongoing thaw in New Delhi-Beijing ties. Apart from aiding its 'iron brother' Pakistan, China itself remains a sophisticated strategic challenge for India. Therefore, utmost caution must be maintained in all dealings with Beijing. China's United Front strategy means that any lever of the Chinese state – including private companies – can be leveraged by Beijing to further its strategic interests. Case in point, three massive tunnel boring machines for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor remain held up at a Chinese port awaiting clearance. They were supposed to start arriving last Oct. Similarly, China is easing its urea export ban, but not for India. India needs two approaches here. It must power on with building indigenous supply chains and tech in critical sectors to reduce dependence on China. The PLI scheme for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients has shown some results. It needs more backing. In the same vein, China's monopoly on rare earth permanent magnet motors can be tackled through development of microelectronics. For R&D collaborations, we can reach out to Taiwan. Second, given the current geopolitical play, it's vital to conclude the trade deal with US. This is now a strategic imperative. India needs options today. And the trade deal with US will provide New Delhi with good leverage vis-à-vis Beijing. It's time to play smart. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
India.com
18 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
China's plan to surround India EXPOSED! Beijing holds trilateral meet with Pakistan and Bangladesh for..., New Delhi concerned due to...
(File) India China News: In another significant move to surround India from all sides, China reportedly hosted a trilateral meeting with New Delhi's arch enemies, Pakistan and Bangladesh, on Thursday, as the three nations held discussions on a hosts of topics ranging from trilateral cooperation to maritime affairs and regional security. According to media reports, the meeting was attended by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladesh's Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddiqui and Pakistan's Additional Foreign Secretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, while Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch also joined the first phase of the discussions held in China's Kunming city via video link. Trilateral partnership not against any country Baloch hailed China for hosting the trilateral meet, and noted the Pakistan-China bilateral relations, adding that Islamabad is ready to enhance cooperation with Bangladesh in various areas. 'Pakistan wants deeper engagement between China and South Asian countries,' she said, according to an official statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the meeting. As per the statement, the foreign secretaries of the three nations agreed to enhance trilateral cooperation in various fields such as trade, investment, health, education and maritime affairs. It also revealed that the three countries will form a working group to follow up and implement the consensus reached during the meeting. The Chinese Foreign Ministry proclaimed that the China-Pakistan-Bangladesh partnership follows true multilateralism and open regionalism and asserted that the cooperation is not targeted against any country. Alarm bells for Delhi The trilateral meet, the first hosted by Beijing in its recent history, is a matter of major concern for New Delhi, as both Pakistan, and more recently Bangladesh, have adopted a stern anti-India stance, especially in the last few years. China considers itself as the 'iron brother' and all-weather ally of Islamabad, and openly supported Pakistan with arms, technology, and vocal diplomacy during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. On the other hand, Bangladesh has moved closer to India's rivals, Pakistan and China, after an interim regime headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus came to the helm in Dhaka following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year.
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Pak, China making headway in Bangladesh, India should keep up': Experts to parliamentary panel
The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs was told by experts on Friday that the Pakistan-China nexus is making headway in Bangladesh and that India should keep up with the developments in the country and not be caught napping. The experts told the panel that India should create stakes in Bangladesh and engage with the neighbouring country through people-to-people contact, The Indian Express has learnt. The agenda of the meeting on Friday was to hear experts on 'Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship'. Four experts in the field of external affairs briefed the Standing Committee on Friday. Former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon, retired Army General Syed Ata Hasnain, former high commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Dean of the School of International Studies (JNU) Amitabh Mattoo briefed the committee on Friday. One of the experts is learnt to have told the panel that the Chinese are making a lot of headway in Bangladesh through infrastructure development like building ports and air bases. Another expert said that the role of the media in the two countries developing a bond is quite crucial, and in the recent past, the media has played a negative role in both India and Bangladesh. One expert said that India needs to grasp the reality of the new power structure in Bangladesh and move ahead. The committee was told that India needs to think and move beyond former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and engage with the current ruling dispensation in the country. The panel was also told that the need of the hour was to engage with the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. An Opposition member in the Committee asked the experts how West Bengal could play a role in improving India's relations with Bangladesh. Sharing of river water was also discussed during the meeting, including the Ganga Water Treaty, which is up for renewal in 2026. Members asked the experts about the probable reasons for the trust deficit between India and Bangladesh and what could be done to mend the relationship.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
China lauds Pakistan's diplomatic efforts amid Iran-Israel tensions
Ambassador of China H.E. Jiang Zaidong called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on 24 June 2025. Listen to article China lauded on Tuesday Pakistan's proactive and positive role in pursuing regional peace, particularly through diplomatic channels including the United Nations Security Council, amid heightened tensions following the recent Iran-Israel conflict. On Sunday, the UN Security Council held an emergency session, where China, Russia, and Pakistan jointly called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad and the two leaders discussed the evolving regional security situation and matters of mutual interest. Ambassador of China H.E. Jiang Zaidong called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 24, 2025 During the meeting, the Chinese envoy praised Pakistan's consistent efforts at international forums for a peaceful resolution to regional challenges, emphasising the need for dialogue and diplomacy. Earlier today, the premier also met separately with the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to discuss the rapidly deteriorating Middle East situation, particularly in the wake of Iran's missile strike on the United States' Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The missile attack, carried out late Monday night, came amid Iran's vows to retaliate for recent US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities. Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the people of Saudi Arabia and Qatar and stressed that diplomacy remained the only path to lasting peace in the region. Read: PM speaks with Qatar, Saudi envoys Ambassador Jiang also briefed Shehbaz on various dimensions of Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation and informed him that preparations were already underway to ensure the success of Shehbaz's upcoming visit to China, scheduled for late August 2025. PM Shehbaz extended his warm regards and good wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. He expressed his sincere best wishes for the successful holding of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and acknowledged the ongoing consultations between the two countries regarding his participation in the event. Recalling the historic, deep-rooted, and iron-clad 'All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership' between Pakistan and China, Shehbaz reaffirmed Islamabad's firm commitment to work closely with Beijing on the timely and effective implementation of key projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He highlighted several priority initiatives, including the Main Line-1 (ML-I) railway upgrade, the realignment of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), the operationalisation of Gwadar Port, and extended cooperation in agriculture, industrial development, and the IT sector. Read more: Global turmoil If Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz — but Pakistan may get a pass The prime minister expressed Pakistan's deep appreciation for China's long-standing financial and economic support, stating that Beijing's assistance had helped stabilise Pakistan's economy and contributed to the improvement of the country's macroeconomic outlook. This support, he noted, was vital for achieving the government's broader socio-economic development agenda. In response, Ambassador Jiang reaffirmed China's commitment to its strategic partnership with Pakistan and reiterated Beijing's support for regional peace, stability, and deeper economic integration. In a separate development, the Foreign Office on Tuesday released a statement expressing Pakistan's deep concern over the growing regional tensions. It strongly condemned violations of the principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations and urged all sides to adhere to international law and exercise restraint. The statement also reiterated Pakistan's consistent position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to resolving conflicts, and called for immediate steps to de-escalate tensions to avoid further destabilisation in the region.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Gwadar agri team visits Zhengzhou
ISLAMABAD: A 10-member high-level agricultural delegation from Gwadar concluded a five-day productive visit to Zhengzhou, China's Henan Province from June 16-20, marking a step forward in enhancing Pakistan-China cooperation in agriculture, education and ecological development. The delegation, comprising agricultural experts and enterprise representatives, engaged in extensive knowledge-sharing and explored numerous collaboration opportunities during their packed itinerary, Gwadar Pro reported on Sunday. Their first stop was the Zhengzhou Garden Expo's state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory and nursery base, where they gained firsthand experience of China's advanced plant propagation techniques and nursery management systems. Educational cooperation formed another key focus area, with visits to primary and secondary schools in Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone to discuss potential student and faculty exchanges. The delegation showed particular interest in China's successful model of integrating ecological farming concepts into school curricula. At the Henan Academy of Sciences, the delegation held detailed technical discussions with researchers at the Laser Manufacturing Research Institute about potential applications of laser technology on Gwadar's agricultural sector. A subsequent visit to Zhongmu County's garlic planting base provided valuable insights into high-yield cultivation methods and post-harvest processing techniques that could be replicated in Gwadar. A major milestone was achieved at Henan Agricultural University with the signing of a landmark Sino-Pak Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement focusing on the introduction and comprehensive utilization of Paulownia and other plants. The agreement paves the way for joint research initiatives and technology transfer between the two sides. The visit also included cultural components, with the delegation experiencing China's rich heritage at the world-famous Shaolin Temple. Business networking opportunities were explored during the meeting with Yulin Holding, where potential investment projects were discussed. Experts believe such exchanges under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework will significantly contribute to Gwadar's development as an agricultural hub and enhance food security in the region. Owais Mir, a member of the delegation, expressed optimism about implementing the knowledge gained during this visit to boost Gwadar's agricultural productivity and exports.
