IT should be a source of satisfaction and pride for people of Pakistan that as a result of the visit of Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar to Beijing, Pakistan and China have reached an understanding to take their bilateral cooperation to new heights through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC assumed centre-stage in wide-ranging discussions that the premier had with President Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and other senior officials. This became evident from the remarks that Mr Xi made during a meeting with PM Kakar emphasizing that both countries should pursue an “upgraded version” of the CPEC, enhancing cooperation in industrial parks, agriculture and mining, new energy, as well as early implementation of major connectivity projects.
This is significant if seen in the backdrop of consistent reports about outside pressure on Pakistan to scale-down cooperation with China on this flagship project as well as terrorist and sabotage activities sponsored by some foreign powers to undermine progress on the historic initiative. In fact, it was because of the conspiracies hatched by these powers that the CPEC lost its original momentum during the last five years but the agreements signed recently bear testimony to the fact that the two sides are determined to accelerate the pace of implementation. As per the consensus reached in Beijing during the PM’s visit, a land border at Sost, Khunjerab would be converted into an all-weather border by upgrading the customs and other logistics services to facilitate trade and the movement of people. Similarly, there is also an understanding that all development projects at Gwadar, a key component of the CPEC, would be completed on a priority basis to make the seaport a hub of bilateral and regional trade and investment. There is satisfactory progress on the desalination plant, the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), the Pak-China Friendship Hospital and other projects. The CPEC being a pioneering project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of the Chinese President, the two countries, in a landmark development, declared to jointly build a growth corridor, a livelihood-enhancing corridor, an innovation corridor, a green corridor and an open corridor, and continue to build CPEC into an exemplary project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The Prime Minister also declared that during his visit the two countries chalked out a new road-map and a new vision based on economic, people-to-people bonds, sustainable development, peace and stability and academic and technical exchanges. The Pakistani side underscored that the Pakistan-China relationship is the cornerstone of its foreign policy.
The two sides will continue to view the relationship between China and Pakistan from a strategic and long-term perspective, move forward together on the path of development, and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. As for BRI, the two sides recognized that it is a strong driver of world economic growth, provides a platform for international economic cooperation, opens up space for common development around the globe, and has become a widely welcomed international public good as well as an important practice in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Both sides agreed to work more closely together on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and usher in a bright future of peace, development and win-win cooperation.
Pakistan and China also affirmed their resolve to further move forward to launch preparatory work for D.I. Khan-Zhob road project to build momentum towards enhancing connectivity and socio-economic development of Pakistan, under CPEC. In a welcome development, a number of Chinese companies have expressed their keen resolve to invest in green energy projects in Pakistan following Islamabad’s commitment to vigorously develop photovoltaic and other renewable energy projects, which are in alignment with the green, low carbon and environmentally friendly development of the energy sector. Another important understanding reached during the visit of the Prime Minister is to actively promote the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation to support Pakistan’s industrialization, and encourage Chinese companies to set up manufacturing facilities in Pakistan. All this shows there is greater commitment on the Chinese side to help strengthen Pakistan’s economy, which is presently the prime concern of the people as well as the Government. We hope understanding on all dimensions of the mutual cooperation would be translated into practical programmes and projects through proper follow up and concerns of the Chinese side about security would be appropriately addressed.
