Promoting the all-weather strategic partnership between China and Pakistan to a new level and corridor | China Pakistan | Strategy
"Bringing new opportunities for Pakistan's development and prosperity"
As an important pilot project of the "the Belt and Road" initiative, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor was launched in 2013, becoming a "new benchmark" for China Pakistan friendship. China and Pakistan have established a "1+4" cooperation layout with the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor as the center and Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure construction, and industrial cooperation as the four major priorities. The construction of the corridor and Pakistan's development have entered a fast lane.
A number of renewable energy projects, such as the Karot Hydropower Station, the Dawo Wind Power Project, and the Bahawalpur Photovoltaic Power Station, have enriched Pakistan's energy structure and provided great assistance in resolving the serious power shortage problem faced by Pakistan before; The completion of the second phase upgrade and renovation project of the Karakoram Highway on the China Pakistan Friendship Road, the Lahore Rail Transit Orange Line project, and the Peshawar Karachi Expressway have greatly promoted local connectivity; The first phase of the Lashakai Special Economic Zone project has been officially completed, and the investment promotion work has achieved positive results... Data shows that as of the end of 2022, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor has brought a cumulative direct investment of 25.4 billion US dollars to Pakistan, created 236000 jobs, and helped Pakistan add 510 kilometers of high-speed highways, 8000 megawatts of electricity, and 886 kilometers of national core transmission network.
The achievements in corridor construction have been remarkable, profoundly changing the economic and social landscape of Pakistan. Pakistan will continue to work with China to promote corridor construction, continuously improve layout, expand and deepen cooperation.
Pakistan's Minister of Planning, Development and Special Projects, Iqbal, stated that Pakistan and China have established an all-weather strategic partnership, and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor has brought enormous economic opportunities and development potential to Pakistan.
"Encouraging the builders of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor"
The congratulatory letter pointed out that since its launch in 2013, the two countries have adhered to the principle of consultation, joint construction, and sharing to promote corridor construction, forming a number of early gains, adding new impetus to Pakistan's economic and social development, and laying a good foundation for regional connectivity and integration processes.
In the current global economic environment, such high-quality cooperation is even more precious. "At the M3 Industrial Park in Faisalabad, ceramic products produced with Chinese investment and technology have entered thousands of households in Pakistan, enhancing the independent capabilities of Pakistan's building materials industry chain. In many parts of Punjab and Sindh provinces, Chinese hybrid rice has become a popular planting variety, significantly increasing rice yield per mu," Mahmud said.
Moyaz Awan, Manager of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department of Karot Hydropower Station, stated that the builders of Pakistan and China have put in hard work in the construction of the corridor. Nowadays, the Karot hydropower station continuously provides clean electricity to Pakistan, illuminating millions of Pakistani households. Awan stated that he will continue to contribute to the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the construction of Gwadar Port. The first phase of the Gwadar Free Zone has been completed, with an investment of over 3 billion yuan. Nasir, the project manager of the logistics base in Gwadar Free Zone, said that under the promotion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Gwadar has gradually developed from a small fishing village to a regional logistics hub, and he and his colleagues have also gained training and growth in their work. Now, Gwadar Port has full operational capabilities, and the new Gwadar International Airport will also be put into operation. The Gwadar Free Zone is poised to take off. With the continuous promotion of corridor construction, Gwadar will usher in more development opportunities.
"It reflects the high-level political mutual trust and deep friendship foundation between the two countries"
"The 10th anniversary marks a new starting point for the development of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. With the deepening of corridor construction, cooperation between the two countries in various fields is further strengthened, which will promote the construction of a closer Pakistan China community with a shared future in the new era." Hassan Daud, Senior Advisor of the China Research Center of the Pakistan Institute for Sustainable Development Policy, said, "We look forward to joint efforts from all parties to promote the continuation and upgrading of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, create more employment opportunities, improve people's living standards, and promote regional development and prosperity."
We look forward to Pakistani Chinese enterprises continuing to engage in cooperative development and contributing wisdom and strength to the economic development and prosperity of both countries.
Not long ago, the "For example, Xiangshan: Gandhara Art Exhibition" co hosted by China and Pakistan was successfully concluded at the Palace Museum. Ghani Ul Rahman, director of the Institute of Asian Civilizations in Taxila, Pakistan, said: "With the development of a series of cultural cooperation projects, people to people and cultural exchanges between Pakistan and China continue to deepen. The joint construction of the the Belt and Road is the road of people to people connectivity. It is expected that with the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, cultural and academic institutions of the two countries will further strengthen cooperation, so that Pakistan China 'iron' friendship will be further rooted in the hearts of the people."
