Abstract:
China and the United Kingdom have both embarked on
ambitious national trajectories that could determine the
economic and political landscape of the region in the
coming decades. Carrying the historical weight of their past
as former colonial masters and subjects, as parties on
opposite sides of the Iron Curtain and then as economic
partners; the two nations are set to begin a new chapter in
their national histories. As trade and investment reaches
unprecedented scales and ultimately pushes the two
countries towards a closer working partnership. In the
uncertain political future being shaped by landmark events
such as the launch of the One Belt One Road (OBOR)
project and Brexit, Pakistan finds itself poised to benefit
from these events. As a close partner of both countries,
Pakistan is in a unique position where it can shape the future
of Sino-British engagement and can meet its own economic
goals along the way. This paper explores the myriad
opportunities and challenges that present themselves to
Pakistan as the UK-China partnership unfolds and further
elucidates on how policymakers can position themselves to
ensure that the coming years allow Pakistan to secure its
interests whilst deepening ties with China and the UK.
