Xinjiang, a region in western China, is an “important node” in the economic corridor connecting China and Pakistan, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said here in URUMQI on Friday.
According to him, Pakistan and China will collaborate to compare and contrast the advantages of Gilgit Baltistan and Xinjiang.
In his speech to Xinjiang University’s staff and students, he argued that “the two neighboring regions had the potential to build synergies for improving the livelihoods of their people.”
Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, welcomed Prime Minister Kakar when he arrived in Beijing on Thursday evening for the Third Belt and Road Forum, where he met with Chinese authorities and other foreign dignitaries.
According to the prime minister, an existing land border in Sost, Khunjerab will be upgraded to an all-weather border as per the agreement struck in Beijing during his visit. To improve trade and travel, he stated, “We would like to upgrade the customs and other logistics services.”
To further strengthen economic ties, PM Kakar advocated making better use of the sister-city relationship with China’s Kashgar and Karamay, calling Gwadar a crucial part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“We seek to learn from Xinjiang’s success in agricultural modernization and aim to set up a joint agricultural demonstration zone to introduce modern farming techniques and practices in Pakistan,” he explained.
The premier continued by saying that solar energy cooperation was a top priority for Pakistan and that the country was interested in developing ties to Xinjiang’s industrial sector.
Culture, agriculture, tourism, education, and joint research were all highlighted as areas where the two regions could work together.
He claimed that Pakistan hoped more Pakistani students would attend universities in China. He encouraged Chinese travelers in Xinjiang and elsewhere to check out Pakistan, noting that a group of 15 Chinese tour operators had just returned from a trip there.
The prime minister of Pakistan noted that the area of Xinjiang was dear to the hearts of Pakistanis due to the close ties between the two countries and the rich cultural diversity it is home to. He emphasized the importance of Xinjiang as a conduit for trade and a link between the two countries.
Kakar attributed the special nature of the ties between Pakistan and China to the generations-long cultivation of mutual trust, common goals, and genuine affection. The relationship between Pakistan and China is seen as strategic by the Pakistani government, he said. As CPEC moved into its next phase, he said, it aided in the improvement of infrastructure in Pakistan and the quality of life for its people.
A new road map and vision based on economic, people-to-people ties, sustainable development, peace and stability, and academic and technical exchanges will be outlined during my time in China.
He stated Pakistan’s firm stance on Xinjiang and its unwavering support for China on fundamental issues. Kakar also addressed the current situation in the Middle East, pleading for an end to the brutality being perpetrated against the Palestinian people.
The prime minister spoke with students from both nations and hoped they will serve as a conduit for friendship and brotherhood between China and Pakistan in the future. He also learned about the 99-year-old institution’s history at Xinjiang University’s History Museum.
