TIMES REPORT
ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a special event marking the 50th death anniversary of Chinese leader, Chairman Mao Zedong, lauded his historic contributions to China and the world. The largely attended function was hosted by the Pakistan-China Institute, whose Chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, delivered the keynote address. Other speakers included prominent journalist Hamid Mir and leading lawyer Salman Akram Raja. Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Syed Fakhar Imam, was the Chief Guest while the function was presided over by the former Foreign Minister and Ambassador to China, Inamul Haq. Senator Sitara Ayaz gave the vote of thanks at the end of the function.
In his keynote speech, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that Chairman Mao was among the three historical giants of the 20th century who shaped the course of history through their leadership and vision, the other two being the leader of the Russian Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Terming Chairman Mao as the builder of new China, Senator Mushahid Hussain said that during the quarter century of his rule, Chairman Mao liberated Chinese peasants from feudalism, doubled the life expectancy, increased the literacy rate from 20% to 93%, made China a nuclear power through indigenous efforts in science and technology and emancipated Chinese women, while ensuring food, clothing, housing and basic health facilities for all Chinese. He thus laid tje Foundation of today’s peaceful, prosperous and powerful China. Senator Mushahid Hussain also praised Chairman Mao as the architect of friendship with Pakistan and he was the one who gave full support to Pakistan during the 1965 war against India, while also supporting oppressed causes like Kashmir and Palestine as well as the liberation movements in Africa.
Senator Mushahid Hussain said that on three occasions, Chairman Mao played a decisive role in saving the Chinese Revolution and in protecting the interests of China and its people. The first was in 1935 where Chairman Mao led the Long March, which saved the Communist Party and preserved the People’s Liberation Army. Then in 1966, he launched the Cultural Revolution in order to save China from the fate of Soviet Union as he feared that the Chinese system was becoming corrupted. He thus helped China to avert the fate of the Soviet Union, which broke up eventually in 1991.In 1971, it was Chairman Mao’s master stroke in diplomacy through his opening to America which delinked the United States from the Soviet Union to prevent their gang-up against China.
Other speakers praised Chairman Mao for being a genuine revolutionary, great thinker and philosopher and a selfless patriot whose focus remained for the welfare of the Chinese. Syed Fakhar Imam praised the governance model of China and termed it as a principal factor in promoting China’s rapid economic development in an environment of peace and stability.
Ambassador Inamul Haq praised China’s diplomacy under Chairman Mao terming it as a beacon of hope as China played a pivotal role in the emergence of the Third World and Global South. Senator Sitara Ayaz appreciated the services of Chairman Mao for giving fundamental rights to the Chinese women who are now equal partners with men in the phenomenal progress of China. All speakers agreed that China is the pivot of Pakistan’s foreign policy and best friend of Pakistan.
The function was attended by people from all walks of life including parliamentarians, policy makers, diplomats, business leaders, students and scholars.
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