China-Pakistan Economic Corridor focus of Xi-Sharif meeting in Samarkand

ISTANBUL, Türkiye / ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) – China’s President Xi Jinping on Friday called for the smooth construction and operation of major projects associated with the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Xi made these comments during a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

China and Pakistan are two permanent members of the regional group that accounts for more than 40% of the world’s population.

The two countries must also fully utilize the role of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on the CPEC, Xi told Sharif.

“China hopes that Pakistan will provide solid protection for the security of Chinese citizens and institutions in Pakistan as well as the lawful rights and interests of Chinese businesses,” he said.

The CPEC is estimated to be over $50 billion bilateral investment cooperation arrangement between Islamabad and Beijing.

China has already invested approximately $28 billion in various energy and infrastructure projects in the South Asian country, allowing the world’s second-largest economy to reach the warm waters of the Arabian Sea via Gwadar port in southwestern Balochistan province.

The JCC is the CPEC’s top decision-making body, which meets on an annual basis.

It is co-chaired by the federal minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives of Pakistan and the vice chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission.

Xi stated that China and Pakistan “need to continue to firmly support each other, and build stronger synergy between their development strategies.”

With improved security and stability in Kabul, China and Pakistan appear to have reached an agreement to extend the CPEC into Afghanistan.

The Chinese president said it is important for China and Pakistan to “expand cooperation in such areas as industry, agriculture, science, technology and social welfare to create new impetus for the CPEC’s development.”

‘Pakistan committed to CPEC’

Sharif reaffirmed his government’s commitment to “high-quality development” of CPEC, according to a statement issued by his office.

“The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s consistent and unwavering support to China on all issues of its core interest including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong,” it said.

Sharif thanked the Chinese government for the “generous and timely” support for the flood-affected people in Pakistan.

Over 33 million people have been hit hard by the devastating flood in Pakistan. More than 1,500 people have lost their lives.

The Pakistani prime minister also “highlighted serious human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and thanked China for its principled stand on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” according to the statement.