While political changes in Pakistan have recently fueled speculation about the possible impact on China-Pakistan relations, it remains clear that the high level of mutual trust between the two sides forms the solid guarantee that bilateral economic and trade cooperation won’t be affected.
In a speech after winning the election, the newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that he will vigorously promote the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project in China-Pakistan cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Times reported.
Prime Minister Sharif’s remarks are a clear reaffirmation of the ironclad friendship between China and Pakistan and should be sufficient to dispel any speculation about policy uncertainty about the CPEC or the broader China-Pakistan economic and trade ties.
Just like all Pakistani political parties and groups share the joint consensus of vigorously developing bilateral ties with China, China’s willingness to firmly support Pakistan’s economic development will not change because of shifting political tides in Islamabad.
As a country in transition, Pakistan is facing multifaceted challenges in terms of political, economic and social uncertainties, which sometimes may lead to changes in its domestic politics. But the more political turmoil it sees, the more urgently the country needs to achieve steady economic development, which is the basis for addressing all major issues.
Currently, the Pakistani economy is facing great downward pressure. First, as the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to linger, the drag on the Pakistani economy is expected to continue for some time. Second, since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, global prices of major commodities like oil, natural gas and food have soared sharply, further aggravating the external economic pressure faced by Pakistan.—APP
