Interview: China's friendship award recognizes efforts in promoting Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: Pakistani senator

China, through its Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award, has recognized, respected and upheld the role of different individuals, institutions and countries in promoting the principles which are the basis of modern day relations particularly in Asia, Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said Friday.

Hussain, chairman of the Senate standing Committee on Defense and Defense Production and chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, was conferred with the award on Monday by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his two-day visit in Pakistani.

Talking about the significance of the award, Hussain said it is a very unique and special award which commemorates universal principles of conduct of interstate relations and it is also promotes people to people understandings.

In 1954, leaders of China, India and Myanmar initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which stand for mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

Pleasantly surprised to be honored with the award by President Xi himself, Senator Hussain said his contributions over the years and even the decades have been recognized. "I have made consistent contributions in a sustained capacity and different roles to promote Pakistan-China relations, by establishing Peking Radio Listeners Club in 1970, then as a parliamentarian, as a minister, as a journalist and as a think tank."

Citing his active role at different forums to defend the Chinese interests, Hussain said he has tabled and passed resolutions in Pakistan's parliament supporting China, backing China's campaign against terrorism, and for China's support and help in evacuating Pakistani citizens from war-torn Yemen.

Hussain recalled how he, as a leader of Pakistan's delegation to UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, countered a resolution tabled by certain western countries against China on the so-called human rights issues in 1993.

The senator founded the Pakistan-China Institute, the first think tank in Pakistan devoted to promoting people to people understandings between the two countries, which played a role in promoting Chinese language learning in Pakistan, starting magazines like Nihao-Salam and Youlin and launching the first website in Chinese language in Pakistan.

Terming President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan as a unique, outstanding and spectacular success, the senator said the visit is very important for Pakistan-China relations as it has elevated the bilateral ties to a higher level of cooperation in different areas. "This visit has given an impetus, strong strength to the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor that will bring a prosperous future for Pakistan through energy, infrastructure and other projects."

President Xi's visit will have far reaching implications as it has laid the basis for peace, security and stability in the region including Afghanistan and rest of the south Asia, Hussain added. "I would say that three Cs of president Xi impressed me the most. first, his competence, second, clarity of issues and third his communication skills," the senator added. Endi