A former Pakistani diplomat said on Friday that he expects to see the upcoming talks between the United State and Iran will yield viable arrangements that can lead to an end of the conflict in the Middle East.
As Pakistan prepares to host and mediate the high-stakes U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad on Saturday, retired senior diplomat Abdul Basit shared his views on the role his country is playing in the historic negotiations.
Since last month, as tensions in the region threatened to spiral out of control, Pakistan has emerged not merely as a bystander, but as a proactive diplomatic bridge between the U.S. and Iran.
The country has stepped up security and logistical preparations as delegations from the United States and Iran are scheduled to meet in the Pakistani capital for talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East following a recently announced two-week ceasefire.
"I think Pakistan is playing a very important role in bringing the warring sides together. The first objective obviously was to have an immediate ceasefire. Now that has been achieved, so one hopes that the two sides, when they come to Islamabad and start talking to each other this coming Saturday, they will be able to embark on a process that leads to a modus vivendi," Basit said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Despite complexities and potential ups and downs, Basit said he believes the U.S. has enough leverage over Israel to prevent the process from unraveling, and expressed hope that Pakistan can help steer the talks toward a durable outcome.
"But I think the U.S. does have a strong leverage on Israel, at least, not to unravel the whole process. Obviously, as I said earlier, it's such a complex issue we cannot expect this whole process to move linearly. It will have ups and downs, but once the process of talks begins, we hope that Pakistan will be able to take it to its logical conclusion," he said.
Former Pakistani diplomat expects viable arrangements from US-Iran talks to ease tensions
China's newly approved Inner Mongolia Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is expected to help turn the northern border areas into a new frontier of opening-up.
China on Thursday released a plan for the establishment of the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone, bringing the total number of pilot free trade zones nationwide to 23. Leveraging its unique location linking Russia, Mongolia and wider Eurasia, the zone is designed to advance the country's high-level opening-up through policy support, industrial upgrading and improved connectivity.
The pilot FTZ covers 119.74 square kilometers and comprises three subzones in Hohhot, capital of the autonomous region, Manzhouli, a northern border city, and Erenhot, a land port on the China-Mongolia border, each tasked with differentiated functions and the development of industries tailored to local conditions.
Specifically, the Hohhot subzone will serve as a central hub, focusing on developing specialty industries and innovation clusters. The Manzhouli subzone will build on China-Russia-Mongolia cooperation to become an important gateway to Northeast Asia and Europe. The Erenhot subzone will tap into the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and serve as a model for cooperation with neighboring countries.
At the Hohhot Comprehensive Bonded Zone, a gold and silver refining project due to start operations will have an annual processing capacity of 100 tonnes of gold and 1,000 tonnes of silver.
The Manzhouli subzone will prioritize industries including the processing of imported resources, cross-border tourism, cross-border financial services and port services.
"Following the approval of the free trade zone, companies like ours are more confident in expanding our cross-border business further and broadening its scope. Specifically, we aim to achieve full coverage across the entire industrial chain," said Cui Rongzheng, head of Manzhouli Xincheng Supply Chain Limited Company.
Notably, in the first quarter of this year, the Erenhot Railway Port, a key hub on the "middle corridor" of the China-Europe Railway Express, handled a record-high 1,145 freight train trips, a 22.3 percent increase from last year, underscoring its role in stabilizing global supply chains and supporting foreign trade growth.
"The establishment of the Inner Mongolia Pilot Free Trade Zone will strengthen links between border provinces and China's inland regions, and enhance cooperation between land ports, coastal ports and inland ports. It is expected to play a key role in improving the wellbeing of ethnic minority populations in the border areas and turning China's northern border areas into a new frontier of opening-up," said Wang Xuekun, head of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.
Inner Mongolia FTZ subzones to drive coordinated opening-up
