Boost mutual development of China and Pakistan through CPEC

A sketch map shows China-Pakistan Railway connecting China's Kashgar to Pakistan's Gwadar Port. (Xinhua photo)

For two years since President Xi Jinping has brought out the initiative, the world can hear the footsteps of the construction of the “One Belt and One Road.”

In January 2016, President Xi wrapped up his state visit to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, releasing further signals to the world on the comprehensive progress and intensive cultivation of China’s diplomatic layout. The journey to the construction of “One Belt and One Road” is brimming over with vigor and vitality.

In April 2015, Xi paid a state visit to the nation’s “Iron Brother” Pakistan. During the visit, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to an all-weather strategic cooperative partner relationship, and both sides confirmed the cooperative blueprint of“1+4,” which centers on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor（CPEC）, together with the building of Gwadar Port and energy, transport infrastructure and industrial cooperation.

Located at the intersection of Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Marine Silk Road, CPEC is known as a flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative. President Xi emphasized “first deployment, then implementation; China will always keep whatever it has said.” After Xi’s visit, both secretariats of the CPEC joint committee held six video conferences and two working group meetings to implement the deals.

In November 2015, China’s National Development and Reform Commission and Pakistan’s Planning Development and Reform Ministry co-chaired the 5th meeting of CPEC joint committee in Karachi. Both sides reviewed the progress of the key projects over the past year, pushing forward further development of the projects.

On January 15, the government of Pakistan decided to establish steering committee of construction of CPEC under the leadership of Prime Minister Sharif. Members of the committee include theCPEC committee chairman, the Federal Planning, Development and Reform minister, the Water and Power minister, the Rail Minister, the Transportation Minister as well as Provincial chief ministers. Under the principle of “one corridor, multiple passageways,” the west passageway of the CPEC is preferential, and should be completed by July 15, 2018.

Build a true flagship

When opening the world map, one could see that the territory of Pakistan looks like a corridor, which connects China and the Arabian Sea. Moreover, it also serves a bridge to associate China with the rest of the world. The connotation of CPEC is constantly enriched and it will play an exemplary role in building up the shared destiny in China’s neighboring countries.

Since 2015, a number of Chinese ministries and departments have worked together with their Pakistani counterparts to implement projects in construction and priorities project and substantial progress has been made in many aspects.

Zhang Baozhong, president of China Overseas Ports Holdings, said both governments have supplied great support in promoting the project. NDRC and Chinese secretariat played a vital role in coordinating and pushing the project, sparing no effort in solving problems.

On December 21, a financing agreement of the first coal-electricity integration project, with a total investment of more than $2 billion, was signed in Beijing. On December 22, two road projects, Karachi–Lahore Motorway and the second phase of the Karakoram Highway upgrading project were signed. These two projects, with contract value of $2.89 billion and $1.315 billion respectively, will be built by China Construction (CSCEC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation. The two projects, once completed, will greatly facilitate travel in Pakistan.

On January 10, the construction of the Karot hydropower station along the Jhelum River was commenced by the Three Gorges Corp. It is not only the first hydropower project of the China-Pakistan economic corridor, but the first contract financed by the Silk Road Foundation. With 720,000-kilowatt installed capacity and $1.65billioninvestment, it will provide Pakistan with 3.174-billion-killowat-hour clean energy after completion. The Three Gorges Corp also wins the development rights of KOHALA hydropower station project, which will be comprehensively advanced this year.

Other noticeable progress includes the commencement of coal-fire emergency power plant in Qasim Port, the first phase of ZTE Energy solar surface power station, Dawood wind power plant, financing wrapping-up of UEP union energy wind power project, signing of Lahore urban railway orange line project, official launch of Thar coalfield and electricity projects.

These achievements reflect the relentless efforts by the CPEC joint commission and both secretariats. It has turned out that CPEC is the most important platform for deepening all-round cooperation between the two countries, and a true flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative.

Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khalid spoke highly of the CPEC. “The corridor will help optimize China, Pakistan as well as regional trade and energy cooperation and will benefit 3 billion people in China, South Asia and the Middle East. The corridor will serve as a catalyst for regional economic integration and benefit regional peace and stability.”