Sabena Siddiqi

Established in 1975, China-EU ties have always focused on finding common ground while setting aside minor differences. Having grown in importance over the decades, they are now the world’s second and third largest economies respectively, representing 25 percent of the world population and generating one third of global GDP. Right now, China-EU relations are second in global importance only to US-China bilateral relations.  China-EU relations have the advantage of having less baggage to carry. Though no major hurdles exist, there are some grey areas in this equation, e.g. the EU’s concern over  human rights  protection and fundamental rights issues in China. The EU has also conveyed that it would appreciate more reciprocity, transparency and non-discrimination on the part of China regarding foreign investment and business practices. Keeping China’s ‘market economy’ status on hold for now, a bilateral investment treaty is being mulled over to reduce barriers. Even th...

It was at the sixth summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2006, that Pakistan's President Musharraf addressed the congregation and expressed his wish that Pakistan become a full member of the SCO. Going on to highlight the geo-strategic location and geo-economic advantages of his country, he said his country was most suitably positioned to contribute to the existing objectives of the SCO.  Underscoring Pakistan's credentials as a future energy and trade corridor for the members of the SCO, he said, "Pakistan provides a natural link between the SCO states to connect the Eurasian heartland with the Arabian Sea and South Asia. We offer the critical overland routes and connectivity for mutually beneficial trade and energy transactions intra-regionally and inter-regionally." Based on geographical contiguity, the countries under the SCO umbrella have increased their standing in Asia's security dynamics, stabilized their respective parts of the...

Connecting Pakistan with China and the Central Asian states, the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) region is the starting point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is also the “flagship corridor” of China’s Belt and Road Initiative mega-project. Locked in by inaccessible terrain, the region was relatively unknown until it was opened up by the  Karakoram Highway (KKH)  in 1979. Constructed with great difficulty, it took Pakistani and Chinese engineers 20 years to complete the KKH due to the treacherous mountain ranges surrounding it. Apart from this, the region was famous for its heroic contribution to the Pakistani army – one of its most valiant units, the Northern Light Infantry, belongs to this region. Always considered a Pakistani region since the partition of the Indian sub-continent, it is surprising that the status of Gilgit Baltistan is being debated nowadays. The daily Report   Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your inbox Historical b...

Reviewing the global impact of 40 years of reforms in China By Sabena Siddiqui 0   Comment(s) Print   E-mail China.org.cn, May 30, 2018 Adjust font size:  Initiated by Deng Xiaoping in 1978, the "opendoor" policy set the country in a new direction by introducing the novel concept of an open market as a vital part of the socialist economy. Cranes load and unload containers at a busy port within the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. [Photo/Xinhua] Starting with the simple methodology of combining market reforms with government programs, the focus has been on achieving sustainability rather than a high economic growth. The policy was effectively executed and resulted in unprecedented economic achievements. Even though China's success was denied due recognition for a long time, achievements speak louder than words and in particular its success in poverty alleviation has become "one of the greatest stories in human history" in the words of World Ban...

Since pulling the plug on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, the US has put the EU, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany in a quandary regarding why it ended. Showing no clear road-map since then, Trump has his European allies on nail-biting edge while China and Russia have taken the news with some equanimity. Right now, the US is on one side while all the other signatories are trying to resolve the crisis in their own way. Having entered the agreement as sovereign entities, the EU, France, Britain and Germany are trying to salvage the JCPOA and Iran has responded positively by not dumping the deal as yet. Having gained more experience after dealing with North Korea, maybe the US will focus on lasting denuclearization this time. A major indicator is that Washington expects Iran to “want to make a new and lasting deal” with the US, in the words of Trump. ALSO READ:  As Iran licks its wounds post Trump snap, concerns grow further afield in India, Pakistan ...