CHINA responded most positively to Pakistan’s recent 2024 elections. Amidst a flurry of harsh and negative statements from various powers regarding the election, China chose to congratulate the successful and peaceful election process. This gesture serves as a robust response to those forces seeking instability in Pakistan. Once again, China has demonstrated itself as Pakistan’s benefactor and friend in times of adversity.
After completing all phases and processes of Pakistan’s government formation, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang congratulated Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as Prime Minister of Pakistan on March 3 of this month. President Xi expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s new government, and through the united efforts of all sectors of Pakistan, the country would be able to chart a new course of development and progress.
Xi stressed that China and Pakistan should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, jointly build an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, continue to deepen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era and create more wellbeing for the two peoples.
China also warmly welcomed the caretaker prime minister on 19 October 2023 in Beijing when he went there to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. During the visit, President Xi met with former Caretaker Premier, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar and pointed out that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ironclad friends.
A few days before the elections, on January 24, 2024, the Chinese Consul General in Lahore paid a goodwill visit to the Lahore Press Club, where Mr. Zhao Shiren expressed his opinion in “Meet the Press” that “China believes Pakistan can hold a peaceful, transparent, fair and timely election. The general election is an internal matter of Pakistan. We cannot interfere in it, but we will welcome whoever forms government after the February 8 elections and move forward together.”
On 19 February 2024, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson congratulated Pakistan on the smooth and successful holding of the general election. Spokesperson Mao Ning said that as a close and friendly neighbour, China fully respects the choice made by the Pakistani people and sincerely hopes that all parties concerned in Pakistan will work together to maintain political unity and social stability after the elections and make unflinching efforts to create the future of national development.
From the President to the diplomatic staff, there is no difference in China’s warm feelings towards Pakistan. Before the 2024 polls, apprehensions reigned supreme about the holding of elections. International community was also in conundrum. In this paradoxical situation, China had unwavering faith and confidence on democratic system of Pakistan. Moreover, China also clarified that the elections was an internal matter of Pakistan. China’s role in Pakistan’s recent elections was much better than other countries.
China is the only friendly country that cares about Pakistan’s interests in all circumstances. No diplomatic officer of China met the Election Commission. Beijing deemed such meetings as interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. China maintains its neutrality in all its statements before or after the elections. China is the only country that has invested more than the rest of the world for the development and prosperity of Pakistan and China respects the sovereignty of Pakistan the most. If compared to China’s investment in Pakistan, US investment is like salt in flour. Be it energy, infrastructure or transport and other avenues of trade and commerce, China has been injecting investment in Pakistan without any string.
It is highlighted here that CPEC is the flagship and most active project of the Belt and Road Initiative under which 36 projects worth $29 billion are on ground in just 10 years. On the contrary, there are aid programs of the United States, while foreign investment is the most important factor of economic stability in any country. It is now a common question among the people of Pakistan that why America does not invest here like China is spending billions of dollars. America is investing heavily in other countries of the region, especially in India, but why not in Pakistan?
China always supports Pakistan’s position on the foreign fronts with doling out huge investments. Foreign investment in any country is dependent on political stability and peace. Regardless of the circumstances, China has always ensured flow of investment. China is ready to take the development of Pakistan to new heights with the new government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may visit China soon and this visit will bring great news for the people of Pakistan regarding CPEC. In my view, the new government needs to focus on political stability and security in the country.
Pakistan and China’s enduring partnership is poised for new heights, evident in the recent meeting between Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 13, 2024. China reaffirmed its commitment to Pakistan’s development under the Shared Future Policy. The invitation for Prime Minister Sharif to visit China underscores the intention to deepen bilateral ties. Sharif emphasized his government’s dedication to implementing CPEC initiatives promptly, signalling Pakistan’s eagerness to advance to the next phase, including operationalizing Special Economic Zones to attract Chinese investment.
—The author is a writer and researcher on BRI & CPEC
