Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin remarked that CPEC has made a tangible contribution to the national development of Pakistan by attracting $25.4 billion of direct investment, creating 192,000 jobs, and producing 6,000 megawatts of electric power in the country.
China said it was committed to working with Pakistan under CPEC, which has helped the two countries explore newer cooperation areas.
10 Years of CPEC
Wang said that after ten years of development, a “1+4” cooperation layout had been formed with CPEC at the centre and Gwadar Port, transport infrastructure, and energy and industrial cooperation being the four key areas.
Noting the achievements of CPEC, the spokesperson said, “Projects under CPEC are flourishing all across Pakistan, attracting $25.4 billion of direct investment, creating 192,000 jobs, producing 6,000 megawatts of electric power, building 510 kilometres of highways and adding 886 kilometres to the core national transmission network.”
Wang remarked that CPEC has made a tangible contribution to the national development of Pakistan and connectivity in the region, and said it is a signature project of the new China-Pakistan cooperation.
Celebrating 10Years of CPEC 🎉
— CPEC Official (@CPEC_Official) July 6, 2023
🇵🇰 🤝🏻 🇨🇳 #China #Pakistan #CPEC #10YearsOfCPEC #CPEC10Y
🎶 (Rafael Krux) pic.twitter.com/1UCOepuzNK
China and Pakistan have also explored new areas for cooperation under the CPEC framework.
Wang added that the two countries had created new highlights in cooperation on agriculture, science and technology, telecommunication and people’s well-being.
China Committed to Work with Pakistan
Affirming China’s commitment to the project, the spokesperson highlighted that China is “ready to follow the guidance of the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries on promoting high-quality development of CPEC to boost the development of China and Pakistan and the region and bring more benefits to the people of all countries.”
Wang was responding to a question on recent remarks by Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, who said that CPEC has been playing a key role in transforming Pakistan’s economic landscape.
In celebration of 10th anniversary of signing #China-#Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistani PM #ShahbazSharif said during a ceremony Celebrating 10 Years of CPEC in Islamabad on 5th July that #CPEC has been playing a pivotal role in transforming Pakistan's economic landscape,… pic.twitter.com/J3Ybv9kBVY
— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) July 6, 2023
Sharif’s Comments
On 5 July, PM Sharif addressed a ceremony marking a decade since the signing of the CPEC. Sharif called CPEC “a transformational project that has been pivotal to Pakistan’s socio-economic development.”
“The last 10 years is an inspirational story of how President Xi Jinping’s vision of “Iron Brotherhood” converted into the completion of projects under the CPEC framework,” he tweeted.
Sharif also appreciated the role of former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif in implementing the project and said that Pakistan was committed to fully tapping the potential of CPEC.
India again opted out of supporting China’s Belt and Road Initiative, becoming the only Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member state not to endorse the project in the New Delhi Declaration. Learn more:https://t.co/NFaFfGc4ki#India #China #BRI #SCO #CPEC #Pakistan
— Statecraft (@statecraftdaily) July 5, 2023
India and CPEC
CPEC, a part of China’s larger Belt and Road Initiative, intends to build an infrastructure network in Pakistan.
The project is a framework of regional connectivity that aims to build an economic corridor, promote bilateral connectivity, construction, bilateral investment, economic and trade, logistics and people-to-people contact for regional connectivity.
It aims to link the Pakistani ports of Gwadar and Karachi to China’s North Western Xinjiang region, using a network of highways and railways.
However, India has repeatedly opposed CPEC as it claims that the project violates its territorial integrity and sovereignty.