Call for designating ‘the day of the shared future”

ISLAMABAD (DI NEWS) : Considering the unique model of inter-state cooperation that Pakistan-China relationship presents for the states of the world, 21^st of May should be designated as the Day of the Shared Future, and commemorated as such, every year.This was urged by the Eurasian Century Institute (ECI), an Islamabad-based global think-tank, in a statement to media issued here in Islamabad on Wednesday.This year, the two countries are commemorating the platinum jubilee – the 75^th anniversary – of founding of bilateral diplomatic relations, that were entered into on May 21, 1951. A number of festivities are part of the commemoration, in Pakistan and in China.“Pak-China relationship is an example like no other. It is an extraordinary model of sustained cooperation between two states having different ideologies and governance systems,” said Irfan Shahzad Takalvi, founding president of the ECI.He added that “the relationship had withstood the vicissitudes of time, weathered extraordinary regional and global challenges, and is rightly labeled as an ‘all weather partnership.’”“It is however time now to make this model something globally pertinent and followed”, he opined. Particularly, it sets a very pleasant precedent for the developing world, for the countries of the Global South, to follow, notes the think-tank. “Moreover, designating such a day would be instrumental in transferring the extraordinary spirit of Pk-China relationship to the future generations,” he added.The think-tank said that it had, in previous years, also suggested the two countries’ relevant administrations to consider designating ‘the day of the shared future’ – either on May 21^st or on July 05 – as the signing of CPEC agreement on July 05, 2013, was also a momentous step in the relationship.“It is the time to seriously consider this,” stressed Mr. Takalvi.