ISLAMABAD: China and Pakistan on Thursday said they would prioritize “high-quality” cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), unveiling plans for an upgraded version of the multibillion-dollar flagship Belt and Road project.
The CPEC infrastructure program was launched in 2015 and includes energy projects, highways, railways and the development of the Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea, aimed at improving connectivity between western China and the Indian Ocean while boosting Pakistan’s infrastructure and economy.
“The two sides agree that the current priority for China-Pakistan cooperation is high-quality CPEC cooperation and build an upgraded version of CPEC,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters during a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar after they held strategic talks in Islamabad, covering trade, security, counterterrorism and preparations for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China later this month.
“We will build on our past achievements to build a growth corridor, a livelihood enhancing corridor, an innovation corridor, a green corridor and an open corridor to promote greater synergy between the five corridors with Pakistan’s development planning.”
Wang said China would also deepen cooperation in industry, agriculture and mining to improve welfare and boost Pakistan’s ability for self-sustained development.
“We will also jointly support the development and operation of the Gwadar Port and promote the KKH realignment project in an orderly manner and we welcome third-party participation in ML1 project,” the Chinese foreign minister added.
He was referring to upgrading the Karakoram Highway, the main road link between Pakistan and China through the Himalayas, and the Main Line-1 railway project, a massive plan to upgrade Pakistan’s Karachi–Peshawar railway line, the backbone of the country’s rail network.
Wang also praised Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign:
“China firmly believes that Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts will help secure victory, and Pakistan will effectively protect the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions.”
Both sides also vowed to “deepen counterterrorism and security cooperation and enhance regional coordination.”
Speaking at the joint press conference, Dar welcomed China’s vision for expanding cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people ties under “CPEC 2.0,” which would focus on industrial zones, green energy and agricultural modernization.
The Pakistani leader confirmed that PM Sharif would travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State Summit, scheduled to be held from Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
He will also meet the top Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. A Pakistan-China business-to-business investment conference would also be organized during Sharif’s visit, Dar added.
