The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Lahore hosted a guest lecture on 7 January 2026 examining the shifting balance of power between China and the United States. The event, titled “Evolving Global Order: China-US Reset”, brought together academics, economists, and security specialists to discuss how rivalry and cooperation between the two countries are shaping global politics.
In his opening remarks, CASS Lahore Director Dr Ahsan Abbas said the international system is undergoing rapid change, requiring new approaches to manage competition and cooperation among major powers.
Former finance minister and economist Shahid Javed Burki described the transformation as historic, noting China’s state-led growth and investment in technology as a challenge to US strategic dominance. He argued that Pakistan plays a pivotal role in China’s long-term plans and urged policymakers to maintain a steady partnership with Beijing while resisting external pressures and narratives that could weaken economic cooperation.
Air Marshal Asim Suleiman (Retd), President of CASS Lahore, concluded the session by stressing that the China-US relationship is the defining factor in reshaping twenty-first century institutions and economies. He highlighted technology competition as a central fault line, warning that global fragmentation could be avoided only by balancing security concerns with economic efficiency.
The lecture ended with an interactive discussion on Pakistan’s balancing policy between China and the United States, the future of CPEC 2.0, and the positioning of regional actors in the wider strategic contest. Participants welcomed the initiative as a timely contribution to debates on national and global security.
