ISLAMABAD: China and the United Arab Emirates are exploring opportunities for cooperation under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China’s ambassador to Islamabad said on Friday.
The Belt and Road initiative is a Beijing-led program to boost economic and trade ties in dozens of countries in Asia, Europe and beyond, mostly through investments in energy and infrastructure.
In Pakistan, Beijing has pledged about $60 billion for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor of power stations, major highways, new and upgraded railways and higher capacity ports, aimed to help turn Pakistan into a major overland route linking western China to the world.
The first phase of the corridor focused on the development of infrastructure and electricity projects and the second phase will be oriented towards industrialization and socio-economic development in nine special economic zones across the country.
“UAE is also a partner under the Belt and Road Initiative and has a lot of trade and economic links with Pakistan,” Ambassador Yao Jing told Arab News in an interview. “Between China and UAE, maybe we have some opportunities to cooperate for Pakistan’s development.”
Yao said since the ninth meeting of a Pakistan China Joint Cooperation Committee held this month, both countries had stepped up efforts to promote “third party investment” in the bilateral project.
After the visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia last September, Islamabad had invited Saudi Arabia to become a “strategic partner” in CPEC.
Ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf senator Syed Shibli Faraz welcomed investment in Pakistan from the UAE and Arab countries and told Arab News the government was discussing opportunities for Arab countries to join CPEC. They had shown “willingness,” he said.
Senator and Chairman of China-Pakistan Institute, Mushahid Hussain Syed, said the participation of friendly countries like UAE would be a “great plus” for CPEC.
In an earlier interview, UAE Deputy Head of Mission in Islamabad, Abdul Aziz Al Neyadi, told Arab News that UAE and China had common interests and were “ready to jointly work in a third country, as the government of UAE and China enjoy strong relations with Pakistan.”
UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, has also said: “Pakistan and UAE need to work together to further upgrade their ties aiming at developing a strategic partnership.”
UAE exploring opportunities for cooperation under CPEC — Chinese envoy
UAE exploring opportunities for cooperation under CPEC — Chinese envoy
- Yao says Pakistan and China have stepped up efforts to promote “third party investment” in the bilateral project
- Last September, Islamabad invited Saudi Arabia to become a “strategic partner” in CPEC
Pakistan Navy tests surface-to-air missile in Arabian Sea, reaffirms defense resolve
- The test follows a brief conflict with India that involved missile, artillery and drone exchanges but no naval clashes
- Pakistan has stepped up battle readiness more recently, with senior commanders overseeing major training exercises
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy reaffirmed its resolve to defend the country’s territorial waters on Monday after conducting a live firing test of a surface-to-air missile in the northern Arabian Sea, according to a military statement.
The missile test involved the FM-90(N) ER, a medium-range naval air-defense system designed to intercept aerial threats, and comes months after a brief but intense military conflict between Pakistan and India in which the nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged missile and artillery fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
While the four-day confrontation did not escalate into a naval clash, the Pakistan Navy remained on high alert until a US-brokered ceasefire brought the fighting to an end.
“Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a Live Weapon Firing (LWF) of the FM-90(N) ER Surface-to-Air Missile in the North Arabian Sea,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“During the firepower demonstration, a Pakistan Navy ship effectively engaged highly manoeuvrable aerial targets, reaffirming the Navy’s war-fighting capability and combat readiness,” it added. “Commander Pakistan Fleet witnessed the live firing at sea onboard a Pakistan Navy Fleet unit.”
ISPR said the fleet commander commended officers and sailors involved in the exercise for their professionalism and operational competence, and reiterated the navy’s resolve to safeguard Pakistan’s maritime interests under all circumstances.
Pakistan has placed greater emphasis on battle readiness in recent months.
Last week, Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited frontline garrisons of Gujranwala and Sialkot to observe a field training exercise involving tanks and drones, where he highlighted the importance of technological adaptability, saying modern warfare required agility, precision, situational awareness and rapid decision-making.
