4th Project of 2022

A first of its kind gathering of league of Pakistani scholars and Chinese diplomats jointly subscribed the outcomes of recently concluded 20th CPC national congress and underlined the need to tap new diversity into Pak-China relations as well as CPEC hailing new induction of fresh corridors including health corridor, industrial corridor, digital corridor, and green corridor in next phase of CPEC.

The Pak-China fraternity held the consensus at a seminar titled 20th CPC congress; party, policy, prospects and impacts on China-Pak Relations organized by Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR) at local hotel here on Sunday.

Shedding light on the sense of new opportunities, new cooperation and new development while discussing impacts of 20th CPC congress on Pak-China relations, Chinese consul general Lahore Zhao Shiren said that China terms people of Pakistan real stakeholder besides government and Chinese leadership is ready to work jointly with every segment of society to let CPEC fortunes to trickle down to grass route level.

On CPEC dismal activity and future momentum he said that it is not appropriate to blame anybody for CPEC slowdown because now CPEC has bounced back with its natural form and pace and all projects will be executed on fast-track to make CPEC a full-on successful story, he added.

At the time of conclusion of 20th Congress that has put the new leadership in place and solidified the party self-innovation outlining major policy initiatives both at domestic and foreign fronts, Mr Zhao announced that 2023 is to be marked as a year of China-Pakistan Year of Tourism and Exchange. In this regard, he said the Gandhara Art Exhibition will be held at the Palace Museum in Beijing to showcase Pakistan’s diverse culture and long history of interaction with China.

With the gradual resumption of direct flights operation with more frequency, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries will surely become more active, he added

As 20th CPC Congress reaffirmed the commitments of the Party and the country to world peace and common development, with dedication to promoting a human community with a shared future through the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese consul general said that CPEC is going to be more mature and mulita-dimensional after induction of new concepts like health corridor, industrial corridor, digital corridor, and green corridor in the next phase.

He termed Congress impacts positive on the development of China-Pak relations, saying recent Prime Minister Shehbaz successful maiden official visit to China right after the Party Congress as first head of government speaks volumes about the great importance attached to by the new Chinese leadership on China-Pakistan relations.

“During the PM’s visit, both sides issued a joint statement and signed or concluded several agreements/MoUs in wide areas. Leaders of the two countries reached an important consensus on the ML-1 project for its early implementation. China also agreed to actively advance the Karachi Circular Railway and encourage Chinese companies to participate in solar and other renewable energy projects,” he added.

China also announced, he said, to Pakistan an extra 500 million yuan in emergency assistance for post-disaster reconstruction, making the total aid of 1.16 billion yuan (36 billion rupees), ranking first among the helping countries.

IIRMR chairman Muhammad Mehdi said that all countries definitely accepts influence from the surrounding conditions and when it comes to China, this situation is always pleasant.

“While the recent 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has expressed the preferences of the Chinese people in front of the world. After Communist Revolution under the leadership of its great leader, Chairman Mao, poverty elimination and Chinese journey to become moderate prosperous country were another milestones achieved in the leadership of President Xi Jinping,” he added

“Pakistan should understand well that the importance of CPEC which also should be reflected in foreign and economic policies. Therefore, Pakistan should have a permanent definite policy regarding CPEC, just as Pakistan has a permanent definite policy regarding friendship with China, and whatever political changes may take place in Pakistan in the future, there should be no negative impact on this project,” he said.

IIRMR President Yasir Habib Khan said that restoration of CPEC momentum at full throttle is another watershed moment in the history of Pakistan China relations hoping that with induction of new joint working groups (JWGs), CPEC is going to get positioned to anchor Pakistan economy. He urged for early implantation of use of RMB for trading transection between Pakistan and China that will open a brand new chapter of tenacious and resilient economic trajectory between both countries.

Dr. Waheed Ahmad Khan, Head of department of the Political Science & International Relations, UCP, Lahore said that messages coming out of the 20th CPC Congress have significant impacts for Pakistan. Pakistani foreign policy leadership must interpret these messages in the broader geopolitical and economic perspectives, he added.

Other who spoke on the occasion were Dr.Amjad Abbas Magsi from Punjab University, Dr. Sobia, Head of International relations Department, Lahore College Women University, Dr. Ariya Professor of Political Science , FC College University, Dr. Hussain Piracha Former head of department sargodha University, Dr. Jarrar, 1st Pakistani who did PHD from Notingham university on Pak- China Economic Relations, Altaf Hussain Qureshi , columnist, Javed Nawaz Former Commercial Councilor Pakistan Embassy, Masqat, Jawad Saleem Chairman agricultural committee Lahore chamber of commerce, Owner Of For Brothers company, Tayyab Qureshi , owner of Roshan Pakistan company.

“As specified under China’s GSI policy, Pakistan is also expected to get more cooperation for law enforcement and anti-terrorism, which will enhance Pakistan’s internal security and contribute towards its relationship with Afghanistan,” he added.