Pakistan: The recent show of unity by the major political leadership of Pakistan in term of endorsing the CPEC shows that there is unity in the development of bilateral relations and socioeconomic development cooperation. This consensus was well expressed during the CPEC Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and the 3 rd Meeting of CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultative Mechanism presided over notable political leaders from both countries.
Political cohesion in support of CPEC
A recent event featuring powerful players such as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar of Pakistan and Liu Jianchao of China’s International Department of the Communist Party attracted a large number of people. Parties that participated include Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and representatives of PTI, MQM, JUI-F, PPP and others signifying its popularity cutting across party lines.
Statements and Commitments
Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister also urged CPEC to play a significant role in their economic development, stating that the success was in the ability to solve enduring problems such as load-shedding and generating job opportunities. He restated Pakistan’s commitment to further improving diplomatic relations and executing subsequent phases of the project particularly in sectors such as agriculture, IT, industrial, and mining.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Liu Jianchao who described the recent accords signed during the recent visit by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China as game changing in the enhancement of bilateral relations. He focused on the long-term strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan under the ‘community of shared future’ as well as to highlight the mutual benefit from cooperation.
Economic Benefits
CPEC can be viewed as one of the most significant aspects of Pak-China economic cooperation encompassing trade connectivity, infrastructure, and energy. The second phase of CPEC, which is still ongoing, is designed to focus on economic cooperation, regional integration, and sustainable development of Pakistan.
Future Prospects
For the future, both nations recognize the need to diversify the CPEC framework in terms of broad-ranging projects and strategic partnership. The promise of educating Pakistani parliamentarians through exchange programs and vocational training is a sign of long-term investment in creating and sustaining cultural understanding.
