Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had further cemented Pakistan-China ties with successful visit: Umer Rehman Malik

Staff Writer

Islamabad: Emerging young politician Umer Rehman Malik said this week that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had further cemented Pakistan-China ties with his successful recent visit.

The Pakistan People’s Party leader said Bilawal Bhutto, who is also the PPP chief, had chosen China for his first bilateral visit keeping in view the long standing friendship of the Bhutto family with the Iron Brother.

“History repeats itself. The memories of legends remain alive among those nations that strive for dignity and integrity. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari showed what difference he can make. His visit has been highly successful and meaningful,” Malik told Covert in an interview.

He reminded that in 1963, PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became Pakistan’s foreign minister at a time when the country was facing several problems. Its security, economy, political scenarios, and relations with the international community were at all-time lows.

For a young and determined foreign minister like Bhutto, dealing with regional and extra-regional powers, and resolving diplomatic issues was a daunting challenge, he added.

However, Bhutto was able to play a crucial role in presenting Pakistan’s positive image and normalizing ties with the international community, he said.

This year, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also taken the responsibility to hold the position of foreign minister with Pakistan’s weakened diplomatic ties with all the major powers, especially the US.

“Already, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has shown that he possesses the required standards to address the prevailing foreign-policy challenges being faced by Pakistan,” Umer Rehman Malik said.

Interestingly, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s relations with China and the Islamic world, and his mother Benazir Bhutto’s relations with the US and the West, were always excellent.

Malik said presenting Pakistan’s soft and friendly image at the global level is a colossal task that needs commitment and sterling working strategy to address our regional and global interests.

“The successful implementation of foreign policy will be Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s best electoral card to secure the PPP a majority in the upcoming general elections,” he maintained.

Malik said PPP co-Chairman had made the right decision to let Bilawal Bhutto Zardari take up the challenging job of the FM. “Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has shown that he can rise to the challenge. China’s decision to refinance loan and promises of investments indicate there is more to come,” he maintained.

He said China has always been a great friend of Pakistan and Beijing had supported Pakistan during difficult times. “China is indeed Pakistan’s Iron brother,” he remarked.