Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan said Islamabad and Washington continue to work on a mutually-beneficial agenda, highlighting the conduct of dialogue processes to promote shared objectives between the two countries.

“We are looking towards the future, into the future with confidence,” the envoy said, commenting on Pakistan-US ties.

In addition, Ambassador Khan described the nature of the two countries’ relations after the US forces left Afghanistan. He continued by saying that perception management was a crucial skill for both Pakistan and the US to acquire after the “messy” fight on terror.

In an interview with China Global Television Network-America’s “The Heat,” Ambassador Khan made this claim and discussed Islamabad’s connections with both Beijing and Washington.

The ambassador went on to say that because of the geostrategic complexity of the area, the two nations had chosen to exploit the available space to forge a separate relationship.

“I believe we’ve been really successful. We’re going to improve this area,” the Ambassador said.

Additionally, he explained Pakistan’s stance on relations with the US and China, emphasizing that Washington’s friendship with Beijing does not come at the price of Pakistan’s ties to Beijing.

The envoy did, however, note that Pakistan and China have a “productive” relationship and called the two nations’ flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project “very significant”.

Khan stated that with the completion of early harvest projects under CPEC, both countries realized the massive project needed an organic identity as well. He continued by saying that investments in tourism, technology, agriculture, career training, and people-to-people exchange were now part of the comprehensive program.

“We’ve already spent about $25 billion up to this point, and by 2030, we will be able to finish the remaining projects,” stated Ambassador Khan.

We are renowned for our commitment to this project, which is the centerpiece of the Belt and Road Initiative, and we want it to succeed in whatever situation,” he said.

In talking about China’s larger role in multilateralism, the envoy emphasized that all nations must have equal opportunities to develop so that they can progress together. “They can avert wars and confrontation and opt for peace through dialogue and diplomacy,” he stated.

He was hopeful that China and the Western bloc will continue to complement one another in the future, which would help Pakistan and other emerging nations.

The ambassador discussed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to China, stating that its objectives would be to improve defense relations, expand commercial cooperation, and make investments in cultural exchanges.