On Monday, 31^st July, 2023, National Institute of Management, Lahore arranged a panel discussion on “Foreign Policy and Trade Diplomacy” for the participants of 37^th MCMC, with eminent speakers Dr. Manzoor Ahmad and Ambassador (R) Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.

Ambassador (R) Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry explained the determinants of the foreign policy and defined the terms foreign policy and diplomacy. Foreign policy refers to the set of strategies, principles, and objectives that a country or a government formulates to guide its interactions with other countries and international actors. Diplomacy, on the other hand, is a specific tool or method used to implement foreign policy, and the purpose of foreign policy it to promote good relations with other countries. The principles of foreign policy are to respect the sovereignty of other countries. The determinants of foreign policy are the goals and priorities of a country, strengths and vulnerabilities, and global conflicts and regional dynamics.

Dr. Manzoor Ahmad suggested that USA and China competition can be an opportunity for Pakistan. Other regional disputes such as Russia Ukraine war, rapid changes in middle east specially in KSA, increase cooperation between India and USA, Afghan and Iran situation have significant effects on our foreign policy. He further deliberated that foreign policy of Pakistan is formulated to protect a country’s core values, national security, ideological goals, as well as economic prosperity. They also emphasized that no country has ever progressed without flourishing trade and it is trade diplomacy that strengthens the economic power and capabilities of a nation state.