World cannot save planet unless US, China work together: Bilawal

• Bilawal says coalition govt took up strict measures to put economy back on track. 
• He says his country seeks to further strengthen its ties with the US in future. 
• FM says epidemic diseases have multiplied problems of flood victims. 

WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the incumbent coalition government led by the PML-N took strict steps to restore the economy. 

Pakistan seeks to further bolster its relationship with the US in future, said the foreign minister while speaking to Foreign Policy's editor-in-chief in Washington.

Commenting on the flood victims, Bilawal said steps are being taken to rehabilitate them. Widespread flash floods have caused huge devastation in Pakistan, said the minister, hoping the international community will support the country at this critical time.

More than 33 million people were affected by the floods, the foreign minister said, adding that the flood-caused epidemic diseases had exacerbated the difficulties of the victims. 

Reacting to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks regarding seeking debt relief from China, Bilawal said its all-weather-friendly country, China, has always helped Pakistan in difficult times. Pakistan's relations with China are multi-faceted, he said.

He said Islamabad has played the role of a bridge to bring China and the US closer. Unless the two countries work together, it will be difficult to cope with the ravages of climate change, he pointed out.

On dealing with the menace of climate change, Bilawal said at the Woodrow Wilson Centre that the world cannot save the planet unless US and China work together. “This is a time of multilateralism. This is not a time for war. You cannot lecture us on climate and green energy while you are continuously engaged in pointless conflicts,” he added.

Blinken had said, "I also urged our colleagues to engage China on some of the important issues of debt relief and restructuring so that Pakistan can more quickly recover from the floods."

Replying to another question regarding the appointment of the next army chief, Bilawal said the Prime Minister of Pakistan has the authority to appoint an army chief. He also said all institutions in Pakistan are independent.

Responding to another query, Bilawal said India did not offer us any help in connection with flood relief, nor does Pakistan expect it. However, Islamabad seeks constructive relations with its neighbours, he said.

He also said Pakistan wanted a peaceful Afghanistan as the neighbouring countries have suffered from the war in Afghanistan.

Replying to a query, Bilawal said democracy is better than military dictatorship in any form. "We believe in democratic traditions. And, we will not support undemocratic measures," he said.

A democratically-elected government believes in the freedom of the media, he noted. 

Separately, while responding to a question at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington that some sections of the media were reporting that “US schooled Pakistan” on maintaining ties with India and China, Bilawal dismissed the reports, saying “he (Blinken) is an incredible human being and can never talk in such tone”.

The foreign minister said that maintaining relations with India were difficult today than it was in 2010 as “Mr Modi is not Mr Manmohan Singh”.