PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while underlining the significance of China in Pakistan’s foreign policy, has reaffirmed the government’s resolve to deepen the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
Talking to a Chinese delegation led by External Security Commissioner Cheng Guoping that called on him in Islamabad on Thursday, the PM affirmed his government’s firm resolve to fast-track both the ongoing as well as new projects under the transformational China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which had immensely contributed to the socio-economic development of Pakistan and also realize its high quality development.
It is a matter of satisfaction that relations with our time-tested friend – China – are once again taking centre stage in our foreign policy as was the case when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid foundations of this enviable friendship and both Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif nurtured it further because of their visionary approach.
The growing bilateral relationship is playing a crucial role in socio-economic development of Pakistan, which is a unique case in our context in the backdrop of monumental developmental activities taking place in the length and breadth of the country as a result of initiation of a number of projects of far-reaching importance for peoples and different regions.
The relationship remained subdued due to a jaundiced understanding of the CPEC and its relevance for progress and development of Pakistan during the tenure of PTI Government when several projects faced uncalled for delays.
Therefore, the credit rightly goes to the leadership of the new Government for rejuvenating ties with China in all spheres of life, especially intensified cooperation under the framework of CPEC.
During his interaction with the Chinese delegation, the Prime Minister affirmed his government’s firm resolve to work with renewed zeal and enthusiasm, in concert with China, especially on projects of strategic significance for both the countries, such as ML-1 project.
Shehbaz said the China-Pakistan relations were based on mutual trust, mutual respect and cooperation and appreciated that Pakistan and China had always stood by each other to overcome every challenge with solidarity and mutual support.
It was because of the strategic dimensions of the relationship and its long lasting impact on the life of the people that some powers are trying to exert pressure on Pakistan to either abandon the path or slow down implementation of work on important projects on the pretext of rising burden of external debt despite the fact that the loans extended by China would be repayable after a gap when economic benefits of the projects under CPEC would help strengthen our capacity and capability to pay back not just Chinese loans but also those taken from other countries and multilateral institutions.
The sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister were not one sided as the head of the delegation also proudly declared that Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership was a model of inter-state relations and a pillar of stability at a time when the international situation was in flux.
The issue of safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan is assuming greater significance in the backdrop of repeated foreign-sponsored terrorist attacks and that is why it was also a point of discussion between the two sides.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan was committed to providing the highest level of safety and security of all Chinese nationals and institutions working on projects in Pakistan.
Cheng Guoping appreciated the measures taken by the Government of Pakistan, under the guidance and direct supervision of the PM, to carry out thorough investigation of the terrorist attacks and enhance measures for safety and security.
He underscored that terrorism was a common enemy of both Pakistan and China, and the two sides shared the firm resolve to eradicate this menace.
All this shows the two countries are determined not to allow their relationship to be affected by conspiracies being hatched by enemies of this great friendship.
We firmly believe that the pace of socio-economic development of people of Pakistan can be accelerated provided we do proper homework to take advantage of repeated offers and gestures by the Chinese side for cementing cooperation in different sectors of the economy.
Chinese are not just willing to provide funding for more mega projects but their entrepreneurs are also ready to invest money and relocate their businesses to the country in view of competitive labour costs and strategic location of Pakistan.
A concrete plan of action needs to be developed and discussion on it can start during the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister to China.
