The China Pakistan Economic Corridor: A Transformational Project for Pakistan’s Future
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has remained at the heart of the Pak-China relationship and is pivotal to Pakistan’s future economic progress and prosperity, according to Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). Speaking at the Third Pakistan-China Think Tank Forum in Beijing, Ambassador Mahmood emphasized the significance of CPEC, which is the flagship project of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Forum and Participants
The Forum, jointly organized by ISSI and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), brought together a 15-member delegation from Pakistan. The delegation, led by Ambassador Mahmood, included diplomats, leading academics, researchers, and media persons. The Seminar, titled “Decade of CPEC: Review and Outlook”, consisted of separate sessions moderated by experts from both countries.
Keynote Address by Ambassador Zhang Maoming
Ambassador Zhang Maoming, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), China, delivered the keynote address during the plenary session. He highlighted the strong friendship and support between China and Pakistan, stating that the two countries are good neighbors, good friends, and good brothers. Ambassador Maoming emphasized that China and Pakistan always firmly support each other, and both President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have agreed to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation.
He further emphasized the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries and China’s support for Pakistan in various areas, including assistance during natural disasters and financial difficulties. Ambassador Maoming also highlighted the importance of CPEC as a pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative and expressed China’s commitment to realizing its full potential and ensuring high-quality development.
Keynote Remarks by Ambassador Sohail Mahmood
In his keynote remarks, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood reaffirmed the importance of Pakistan-China relationship and the strategic cooperation between the two countries. He emphasized that CPEC has contributed significantly to Pakistan’s economic growth, addressing energy deficits, improving infrastructure, and promoting socio-economic development. He further highlighted the second phase of CPEC, which focuses on agriculture, industrialization, special economic zones (SEZs), mining, science and technology, and information technology.
Ambassador Mahmood stressed the need for both countries to work together in defending CPEC against threats and challenges, particularly in terms of security. He also emphasized the need to plan for the future of CPEC and the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, especially as both countries approach their respective centenaries in 2047 and 2049.
Other Sessions and Concluding Remarks
The Forum included various sessions moderated by experts from both countries, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of CPEC. The speakers discussed the achievements of CPEC, its potential for further development, and the importance of close monitoring of its security.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Fu Xiaoqiang, Vice President of CICIR, highlighted the achievements of CPEC over the past decade, including job creation, improvements in the energy sector, and infrastructure development. He emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the security of the project and lauded the prospects of the China-Pakistan friendship for the region and beyond.
The Forum provided a platform for experts from both countries to exchange views and ideas on CPEC and its future prospects. It underscored the strong bond between China and Pakistan and the commitment of both countries to further deepen their strategic cooperation for mutual benefit and regional development.
