ISLAMABAD
\nThe China Program at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, hosted a seminar titled \u201cProtecting Shared Interests through Multilateralism: An Imperative for Global Peace and Stability,\u201d aimed at examining the importance of reinforcing multilateralism amid an increasingly fragmented global order.
\nIn his welcome remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, highlighted the growing trend among traditional powers toward unilateral actions, protectionism, conditional diplomacy, and transactional approaches, which he noted are undermining international law and the rules enshrined in the UN Charter.
\nReferring to India\u2019s proclivity for military aggression as reflective of this trend, he emphasized that the protection of shared interests cannot rest on the discretion of a single power.
\nInstead, it requires global cooperation and adherence to multilateral mechanisms. In this context, he noted that China\u2019s expanding institutional engagements are rooted in a quest for shared prosperity and reflect concrete contributions toward strengthening the UN-based international order.
\nIn the keynote address, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed underscored the centrality of multilateral engagement in safeguarding global peace and stability.
\nHe praised China\u2019s various global initiatives, describing them as core frameworks for protecting shared interests within the existing international system.
\nCalling China a flag bearer of multilateralism and globalization, he cited the broad participation of countries in the Belt and Road Initiative as evidence.
\nHe concluded by stating that multilateralism is no longer a policy option, but a strategic necessity.<\/p>\n
He further noted that Pakistan has consistently advocated mediation and dialogue as tools for conflict resolution, emphasizing that multilateralism has been a foundational pillar of Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy since its inception.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the erosion of the contemporary international order, Ambassador Naela Chohan cited unilateral actions such as Indian military aggression against Pakistan, the Russia\u2013Ukraine war, U.S. actions in Venezuela, and ongoing tariff wars as stark examples of decisions that have destabilized peace and security.
\nShe observed that the current global order is under severe strain and viewed Chinese-led alternatives as more inclusive, noting their role in strengthening regional and international institutions and revitalizing multilateral diplomacy.
\nProfessor Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Meritorious Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University, expressed concern over intensifying strategic and great-power competition, warning that its impact is increasingly spilling over into middle powers. Against this backdrop, he highlighted the significance of China\u2019s initiatives in promoting peaceful dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
\nPresenting a Chinese perspective, Professor Qian Feng, Director of the Research Department at the National Strategy Institute, Tsinghua University, stated that China\u2019s approach seeks to accommodate diverse viewpoints and promote equity-based global governance frameworks. He emphasized that China\u2019s position on multilateral institutions is grounded in the principles of universal security, inclusivity, and building a shared future for mankind, in contrast to unilateralism and protectionism.
\nAddressing multilateralism from the standpoint of the Global South, Dr. Manzoor Khan Afridi, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, noted that platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and China\u2019s development initiatives demonstrate a cooperative approach to international relations. He asserted that the Global South has benefited significantly from these initiatives, contributing to sustainable and long-term development.
\nSimilarly, Dr. Noor Fatima, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, emphasized that China\u2019s initiatives prioritize human security and development rather than ideological or geographical considerations.
\nShe highlighted the people-centric and inclusive nature of these initiatives, noting that they lend legitimacy to China\u2019s advocacy for multilateralism and reforms in global governance amid shifting power dynamics. She further observed that China\u2019s approach is pluralistic and outcome-oriented, promoting participation, capacity building, and tangible results.
\nDr. Talat Shabbir, Director of the China\u2013Pakistan Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, described China\u2019s inclusive governance model and its four major global initiatives \u2014 the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and Global Governance Initiative (GGI) \u2014 as deeply rooted in the principles of multilateralism. He argued that the erosion of trust due to veto politics and selective engagement necessitates the reinvention of mediation mechanisms that are inclusive and preventive rather than reactive, stressing that mediation is a collective responsibility.
\nConcluding the seminar, Mr. Wang Shengjie, Counsellor at the Embassy of the People\u2019s Republic of China in Islamabad, outlined China\u2019s comprehensive and viable alternative to unilateralism. He noted that violations of sovereignty and exceptionalism are among the most alarming realities of today\u2019s world.
\nIn an era marked by \u201cmy interest first\u201d approaches, he stated that China envisions a world based on shared interests.
\nHe explained that China\u2019s multilateralism rests on the principles of sovereign equality, openness and inclusiveness, opposition to cliques and exceptionalism, and a focus on tangible outcomes, all of which complement the UN-based international order.
\nHighlighting Pakistan\u2013China relations as an example of mutual trust and shared well-being, he concluded by noting that multilateralism is a collective journey grounded in equity, shared responsibility, and cooperation \u2014 and that as a middle power, Pakistan offers a constructive middle path.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The China Program at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, hosted a seminar titled \u201cProtecting Shared Interests through Multilateralism: An Imperative for Global Peace and Stability,\u201d aimed at examining the importance of reinforcing multilateralism amid an increasingly fragmented global order. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, highlighted the growing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":527688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-527662","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n