In Washington
For some reason the American press continues to play down China’s profile – because of the recent market crash and yuan devaluation – ahead of this week’s meeting between presidents Barak Obama and Xi Jinping. Beijing, needless to say, sees no such deflation of its position. The capital market hiccup was managed quite successfully from its point of view; and the currency variation, too, has been successfully priced in by Mr Market. Both presidents have much to discuss, of course, not the least about Asia, where Washington’s pivot has caused considerable realignment of conventional political and business linkages.
Pakistan continues to be significant for both countries, which is why this meeting will be observed carefully by Islamabad. The Americans need us because of the job still half done in Afghanistan. We proved very recently how successfully we can bring warring parties to the negotiating table. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the untimely revelation of Mullah Omar’s death, some form of significant headway would already have been made. Even now, though, Washington understands very well the role Islamabad can and should play. For the Chinese, our Corridor is an integral part of their grand New Silk Route initiative. Without Pakistan’s crucial geographical play, China’s regional ambition, too, will remain half-cooked.
On the whole, this meeting will test both great leaders. Obama, about to bow out, has much to his credit. He wrapped up the ugly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and ended long hostilities with Iran and Cuba. At home he brought medical care and immigration benefits to many. Xi, still early in his presidency, is China’s Mr Change. He has won great praise for cleaning the Communist Party and government bureaucracy of corruption. He is also hailed as a man of great vision. So when these two men, representing the world’s largest economies and militaries, carve out the way forward, the result will impact the whole world. Of course, they are at logger heads on a number of issues. Hopefully they will decide to turn their energies to more purposeful uses than before; like the international war against terrorism and the horrible refugee crisis. The world will be a better place if the biggest and most influential countries play a constructive instead of destructive role.
