China and Pakistan aim to expand CPEC to include Afghanistan.
Both parties exhibit a great commitment to thwarting any attempts to harm the project or their friendship.
ISLAMABAD:
The multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) received a boost from Pakistan and China on Wednesday with a drive to expand the BRI’s flagship programme to Afghanistan.
The joint statement was released following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Le Keqiang, and other senior leaders. During their discussions, they touched on a variety of topics, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), trade relations, regional issues, and other global concerns.
Since taking office in April, it was the prime minister’s first trip to Beijing. Pakistan had high expectations for the trip, but it took more than six months for it to happen. The government of Pakistan hoped that China will also speed up the CPEC in addition to providing financial aid due to Pakistan’s dire economic circumstances.
The two sides agreed to build on their agreement on ML-1, a crucial strategic project of CPEC, for its quicker completion, even though the joint statement did not say that China would take Pakistan’s request for a restructuring of its $6.3 billion debt into consideration.
“The two sides decided to build upon the leadership consensus and to push the process of its earliest implementation, acknowledging that ML-1 is a project of critical significance under the CPEC framework and of relevance to Pakistan’s socio-economic development. The Karachi Circular Railway, which was a crucial necessity for Pakistan’s largest city, was also decided to vigorously pursue, according to the joint statement.
Due to numerous delays, the ML-1’s price rose significantly from its initial $6.6 billion to $10 billion.
The statement said that the Chinese authorities valued PM Shehbaz’s dedication to friendship between China and Pakistan over a long period of time. Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing practical collaboration across the board and deepening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
The two sides engaged in a thorough discussion on bilateral relations, the situation in the region, and the political climate globally. In light of the new global challenges, the two sides acknowledged the significance of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. The sessions were distinguished by the customary warmth, shared strategic trust, and consensus of opinion.
The presidents emphasised the long-standing and enduring nature of Pakistan and China’s close strategic ties. The historical alliance between China and Pakistan serves the interests of both nations. The Chinese side reaffirmed that its foreign policy will always place a high premium on relations with Pakistan. The Pakistani side emphasised that the relationship between the two nations is the cornerstone of its foreign policy and that the Pakistani people always favour the strongest friendship between them.
Both parties reaffirmed their shared support for one other on matters involving their fundamental interests. The Pakistani side reaffirmed its support for the one-China policy and commitment to the resolution of the Taiwan, South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet disputes. The Chinese side reiterated its support for Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security as well as for its socioeconomic growth and prosperity.
The Chinese government conveyed its sorrow and sympathy for the recent loss of life and property brought on by Pakistan’s historic floods. PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude for the prompt and generous aid given by the Chinese government and people, including the provision of emergency supplies, the contributions of Chinese expert teams on post-disaster assessment and health care to help with damage assessment, the sharing of experience in post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation, and the post-disaster disease response to increase the capacity of medical treatment.
China’s mobilisation of aid was a striking illustration of their long-standing All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
The Chinese leadership was informed by PM Shehbaz on the post-flood aid and recovery activities. The Chinese side reaffirmed their determination to support Pakistan during these trying times and to keep assisting Pakistan in its efforts for the restoration of the damaged areas.
The three sessions of the Foreign Minister’s Strategic Dialogue were evaluated by both parties with pleasure, and they both decided that the next meeting should take place as soon as possible, ideally in Islamabad in the first half of 2023.
The two sides commended the Spokespersons Dialogue and the Consultations on Arms Control and Disarmament, noting the crucial role that various bilateral cooperation mechanisms play in strengthening strategic communication.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was emphasised as being crucial to Pakistan’s economic and social growth. The prime minister reiterated his government’s commitment to the high-quality development of the BRI.
The decision was made to maintain the momentum of CPEC’s high-quality development after the 11th CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) met on October 27, 2022, to examine the status of ongoing projects.
Both parties expressed satisfaction with the completion of key projects and agreed to speed up progress on other related projects of the Gwadar port and free zone, acknowledging the significance of the Gwadar port as the leading project of CPEC and a crucial node in cross-regional connectivity.
The two sides decided to further build on the health, industry, digital, and green corridors launched earlier this year and carry out relevant cooperation in line with the leadership’s consensus to accelerate cooperation in the areas of agriculture, mining, IT, and socioeconomic development under CPEC.
The Chinese side appreciates the efforts made by the Pakistani government to actively develop solar projects and other renewable energy sources that are in line with the green, low-carbon, and environmental development of the energy sector. The Chinese side also encourages Chinese businesses to join Pakistan in this endeavour.
To help Pakistan’s industrial development, the two parties decided to actively push the Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation’s implementation.
Both parties expressed their steadfast determination to thwart any threats or plots against the CPEC and the friendship between China and Pakistan. The commitment of Pakistan to the safety and security of all Chinese workers, projects, and institutions in Pakistan has been reaffirmed. The Chinese side praised Pakistan for its unwavering resolve and aggressive actions in this area.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with CPEC’s contribution to the socioeconomic growth of the two nations as they noted the accomplishments of the outstanding first ten years of the project in 2023.
The latest CPEC Joint Working Group on International Cooperation and Coordination (ICC) meeting had shown that CPEC was an open and inclusive platform, the two parties agreed. Both parties appreciated the opportunity for interested third parties to profit from investment prospects in the CPEC’s main sectors of industry, agriculture, information technology, science, and technology, as well as oil and gas.
The two sides took note of the steadily rising volume of bilateral trade since the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement went into effect. Both parties agreed to call an early meeting of the Committee on Trade in Goods and vowed to work even closer together to improve trade liberalisation during the second phase of CPFTA.
The Chinese side indicated a willingness to actively assist Pakistan in increasing exports to China and welcomed high-quality items from Pakistan, especially food and agricultural products, to the Chinese market.
Additionally, it was decided to promote collaborations and investments in Pakistan’s export-oriented industries, which would help the two countries’ commerce to grow sustainably. To further strengthen their bilateral economic and commercial cooperation, the two parties decided to conduct a joint research.
The two parties decided to improve border port facilities in Khunjerab and further up their collaboration on disease management and customs clearance in border regions in order to fully exploit overland trade and exchanges.
Additionally, they decided to cooperate to strengthen the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA), a crucial cornerstone of regional connectivity.
The two sides welcomed the signing of an MOU on e-commerce and mutually supported the creation of Pakistan’s country pavilions on China’s e-commerce platforms, acknowledging the enormous scale of China’s e-commerce market and its potential to further strengthen bilateral trade. The two parties decided to improve collaboration between start-ups and micro, small, and medium-sized businesses as well as further deepen their cooperation in the areas of online payment systems, logistics, warehousing, and customs facilitation.
The two sides noted that this year saw the first gatherings of the China-Pakistan Joint Working Group on Trade, Investment, and E-Commerce and the China-Pakistan Poverty Reduction and Social Development Forum, as well as the organisation of capacity-building programmes on poverty reduction and exchanges and docking activities in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and shoemaking sectors. China is eager to continue practical, meaningful collaboration with Pakistan in order to aid in the country’s socioeconomic advancement and reduction of poverty.
The Chinese government was praised by the Pakistani side for its outstanding success in bringing over 800 million people out of extreme poverty. The Chinese side promised to assist the Pakistani government in rebuilding the economy in disaster-hit areas, especially through the Benazir Income Support Programme, after taking note of the millions of people who had been displaced as a result of the recent floods in Pakistan.
To further ease Pakistani students’ travel to China, the two sides decided to stay in regular contact. PM Shehbaz congratulated the Chinese government for allowing Pakistani students back into their educational systems.
The two sides recognised the importance of the cultural cooperation agreement between the two governments and its executive programmes and agreed to give people-to-people exchanges, tourism cooperation, and cultural exchanges between the two countries new impetus. They also welcomed the extension of the current executive programme to 2027.
The decision to recognise 2023 as the China-Pakistan Year of Tourism Exchanges and the planning of a Gandhara Art Exhibition at the Palace Museum in Beijing in 2022–2023 were also appreciated by the two parties.
The two sides agreed to gradually enhance the number of direct flights between the two nations, including those between Islamabad and Beijing, after taking note of the gradual return of flight operations between the two.
Both parties acknowledged their delight with the close coordination, mutual trust, and open communication between the two countries’ armed forces. The two sides agreed to maintain high-level military-to-military visits and exchanges and intensify cooperation in areas such as training, joint exercises, and military technology, underscoring the importance of stronger strategic defence and security cooperation between China and Pakistan for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The two sides voiced their opposition to the politicisation of the counterterrorism debate and denounced terrorism in all of its expressions and forms. China acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices made in the war on terrorism. To further global peace and security, the two parties decided to further improve their counterterrorism collaboration.
A prosperous and peaceful South Asia is in the best interests of all stakeholders, the two sides reaffirmed. They emphasised the value of real communication in settling all open disagreements. The Chinese side was informed of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir by the Pakistani side. The Chinese side reaffirmed that the Kashmir issue was a legacy of the past that should be resolved correctly and peacefully in accordance with the UN Charter, pertinent UN Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements.
Regarding Afghanistan, the two parties concurred that progress and prosperity in the region depend on a stable, prosperous, connected, and peaceful Afghanistan. They expressed pleasure with the results of the three meetings of the foreign ministers of the six nations that border Afghanistan and looked forward to the upcoming gathering in Uzbekistan.
The two sides emphasised the necessity of the international community continuing to support and aid Afghanistan, especially by unfreezing its abroad financial assets. The two parties decided to keep providing the Afghan people with humanitarian and financial aid as well as to increase development cooperation there, particularly by extending CPEC to Afghanistan.
A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering bilateral cooperation in the fields of e-commerce, the digital economy, agricultural export, financial cooperation, cultural property protection, infrastructure, flood relief, post-disaster reconstruction, GDI, animal disease control, livelihood, cultural cooperation, space, geosciences, and law enforcement and security were signed and concluded by the two sides.
