Tazeen Akhtar
Pakistan civil and military leadership is all set to stand clear and enthusiast for the start of second phase of CPEC that is said to be more delivering and proving to be the real game changer phase with shared development and prosperity. People of Pakistan are highly anxious to see it as soon as possible. First phase (10 long years) was the hardest in a sense that there had been difficult situations most often in the way forward like political instability , terrorism, international conspiracies etc. China is determined to complete the flagship project of BRI within its timeline. For the same reason, China is hosting Pakistani officials and sending her representatives to Pakistan continuously. Both countries are doing joint efforts to make the second phase in line with what was desired as per the resolve related to BRI and CPEC.
The latest in this regard is the visit of Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to Pakistan on 21-22 Jan 2024. His visit coincided with the fresh escalation between two neighbors as well as two big centers of Chinese investments in the region, Iran and Pakistan.Fortunately and with special influence of the common friends, finally both countries agreed to normalize the relations. China only the last year, reconciled between Iran and KSA. In Pakistan, the people were happy that now Pakistan can import cheap fuel and electricity from Iran without any apprehension of annoyance of KSA.
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Sun Weidong has served in Pakistan as Ambassador during the crucial time of CPEC a few years ago.He call on Caretaker Prime Minister , President Dr Arif Alvi, counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani, COAS Gen Asim Munir and Chairman JCSC Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
The Caretaker Prime Minister, recalling his visit to Beijing for the 3rd Belt and Road Forum in October 2023, said he was deeply touched by the warm sentiments of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang towards Pakistan. He also conveyed best wishes for the Chinese leadership.The Chinese dignitary briefed him regarding various meetings held during the visit.
“Pakistan was fully committed to the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and stressed the need for both sides to continue to work closely to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects, said CPM Anwar ul Haqq.
Mr Sun Weidong conveyed special greetings of the Chinese leadership to the Prime Minister. The Vice Foreign Minister said China and Pakistan were “iron-brothers”. He assured that China would always remain a reliable partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic progress.
People of Pakistan hold China in high respect for her consistent support to Pakistan at different levels but they have not seen the benefits which were promised by Pakistan authorities in last more than 10 years. They are suffering from the economic crisis , sky rocketing prices of daily commodities including fuel and food along with cruel taxation in different shapes and multiple manners. They need some good news and some improvement in the economy that they expect can soften the rulers to shift some benefit to the public.
Mr Sun Weidong called on President Dr Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr the same day. Chinese Ambassador , Mr Jiang Zaidong, was also present .
The state media reported after the meeting , “Pakistan and China have reiterated their desire for enhanced cooperation in the areas of economy, information technology, agriculture, and human resource development for the mutual benefit of the two friendly countries.Pakistan & China for enhanced cooperation in IT, agriculture, HR development.”
The President stated that Pakistan was fully committed to the high-quality development of CPEC, adding that the Chinese support in the next phase of CPEC would be crucial for Pakistan’s industrial development. He remarked that economic cooperation between the two friendly countries would further cement bilateral ties. He appreciated the Chinese support in stabilising Pakistan’s economy. The President said that Pakistan wanted to learn from the Chinese experience in IT, education, health, agriculture, and poverty alleviation for its socio-economic development.
The President remarked that Pakistan and China held similar views on various regional and international issues and cooperated at different fora. He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to support China on all core issues, including the “One China” Policy, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea. He said that Pakistan was grateful to China for supporting Pakistan’s national development and its principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The visiting Vice Foreign Minister of China said that Pakistan and China had a long history of friendly relations which would continue to grow stronger. He said that CPEC had yielded fruitful results, adding that both the countries had huge potential for increasing cooperation in various fields.
He also thanked the President for visiting China during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, saying that his support to express solidarity with China would always be remembered.
CFM Jalil Abbas Jilani received Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Sun Weidong in his office .
Both officials reaffirmed the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and held an in-depth discussion on the entire gamut of bilateral relations including CPEC and bilateral economic and financial cooperation.
The Foreign Minister appreciated the contributions of Vice Foreign Minister in deepening Pakistan-China friendship and commended China’s unflinching support to Pakistan on all issues.
Expressing satisfaction at the steady development of CPEC, Foreign Minister Jilani emphasized the significance of CPEC for Pakistan. He said that Pakistan would continue making efforts for realization of CPEC’s full potential for shared benefits. He appreciated China’s readiness and support for all CPEC projects in Pakistan.
Thanking the Foreign Minister for the generous hospitality, Vice Foreign Minister Sun highlighted that as iron brother and a reliable friend, China accorded immense importance to Pakistan in its foreign policy and looked forward to even deeper cooperation in all fields.
Mr Sun Weidong, Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China called on General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), at GHQ.
During the meeting matters of mutual interest and measures to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation were discussed.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister said that Pakistan and China are all weather strategic partners. He acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts towards regional peace and stability and also conveyed China’s satisfaction on security arrangements for CPEC projects.
COAS thanked the visiting dignitary for his warm remarks and said that relations between Pakistan and China are founded on a common understanding of regional peace, stability and prosperity for the people of both countries.
Mr Sun Weidong called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee at Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi.Matters related to bilateral security, defence cooperation, regional and international security environment were discussed during the meeting.
Security has been a huge challenge in way to success of CPEC. Pakistan had and still has security issues in the main route of CPEC that is KPK and Balochistan. Recent surge is terrorism speaks a lot that the claims of erasing the terrorists from tribal belt as well as from Balochistan were no doubt very tall but not the truth.
This menace has took lives of hundreds of our soldiers and civilians in recent few months only. Military leadership of Pakistan is cognizant of this threat to not only sovereignty of the state but timely completion of CPEC as well. Chinese engineers and workers have been the best prey for the terrorists for known reasons. Therefore second phase is more dependent on military leadership than the civilian government.
74th Founding Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan – Strong Resolve on Moving Forward on CPEC Expressed from Both Sides
It is matter of fact that CPEC projects had contributed to the economic development of Pakistan, besides helping meet its energy needs as is shared by Pakistani state media but it is also a bitter truth that not a single Special Economic Zone has been completed or operated so far. Rashkai is the only name they claim but it is not working. There are no reports of shifting of any industry from China or from within Pakistan to this zone. China needs big lands to establish the SEZs and for that identification and purchase of land is another gigantic task still pending even after more than 10 long years.
