BEIJING: Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ongoing first official visit to China has set the tone for deepening of Pakistan-China cooperation in the next five years.
Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Such ties stem from their long-term support to each other and close collaboration, which has been whole-heartedly upheld by people of the two countries, according to an article published by Global Times on Sunday.
In July this year, PM Khan (PTI) defeated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to become the country’s new prime minister, ending three decades of political dominance by these two political dynasties.
Many people in Pakistan believe that PM Khan is a reformist. “Justice” and “anti-corruption,” his primary slogans during the campaign, have attracted a large number of supporters, especially among the youth in the country.
In his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, PM Khan said that he had come to learn from China’s experience in combating poverty and corruption.
The two nations signed a dozen agreements and documents for further cooperation. PM Khan is also a guest of honour at the ongoing China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is currently the largest joint project between the two countries. The construction of CPEC has met with consensus across the political spectrum of Pakistan.
Amid Pakistan’s economic challenges, the construction of the corridor can help Islamabad attract more foreign investment. CPEC has already made great achievements in infrastructure and energy development.
In the future, it will shift its focus to industrial cooperation and improvement of people’s livelihood, boosting collaboration in agriculture, fisheries and advanced technology industries, so as to make more contributions to Pakistan’s economic development, employment and poverty alleviation.
The western media blamed CPEC for Pakistan’s external debt and liabilities. But the truth is that foreign debt, weak governance and tax evasion have always been a major problem with Pakistan’s economic development.
A large number of wealthy people have been transferring wealth to other countries.
Reforms are urgently needed and China is willing to help as much as it can.
The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is also an ideal platform to promote Pakistan-China economic and trade cooperation.