ISLAMABAD: Speakers at an event marking the 50th death anniversary of Chinese leader Chairman Mao Zedong lauded his historic contributions to China and the world.
The function hosted by PakistanChina Institute was attended by people from all walks of life, including parliamentarians, policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, students and scholars.
A statement issued here said that in his keynote speech, the institute’s Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said 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 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 per cent to 93 per cent, 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 the foundation of today’s peaceful, prosperous and powerful China.
Senator Hussain also praised Chairman Mao as the architect of friendship with Pakistan. 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 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 1935where 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 fromthe Soviet Union to prevent their gangup against China.
Other speakers praised Chairman Mao for being a genuine revolutionary, greatthinker and philosopher and a selfless patriot whose focus remained for the welfare of the Chinese.
Former Speaker National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam, who was the chief guest, praised the governance model of China and termed it a principal factor in promoting China’s rapid economic development in an environment of peace and stability.
Former foreign minister and ambassa-dor to China Inamul Haq, who chaired the event, praised China’s diplomacy under Chairman Mao, terming it 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.