Gwadar's new gateway: how infrastructure shapes CPEC's future

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday called for deepening and expanding cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the SCO held in Islamabad. Before the SCO meeting, he had attended a ceremony with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's Office marking the completion of the New Gwadar International Airport project.

"China is willing to work with Pakistan, focusing on establishing an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," Premier Li told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his official visit to Pakistan.

The New Gwadar International Airport, part of the CPEC, is set to transform Gwadar into a vital regional hub. Premier Li emphasized that the airport symbolizes the deepening collaboration under CPEC, showcasing the unique friendship between China and Pakistan. 

"We aim to accelerate the construction of major projects in areas such as railways, roads, and ports and strengthen industrial integration," the premier said.

With advanced Chinese technology, the airport features state-of-the-art infrastructure, including new runways, taxiways and passenger terminals. "This development will significantly boost local socio-economic progress and better integrate Gwadar into global supply chains," project manager Faiz Ullah Khattak told the China Media Group.

Beyond the airport, Gwadar Port also plays a critical role in the CPEC project. Once a barren and underdeveloped area, the port has transformed into a vibrant hub of regional trade and logistics. Speaking about this transformation, Zhang Baozhong, honorary chairman of China Overseas Port Holding Company, shared his vision of how the once abandoned port has evolved into a trading hub featuring tens of companies.

"I was here for the first time in April 2015. When I got off the plane, I really felt shocked, as if (I had come) to Mars; everything was desolate," he told the CMG. "I did not see pedestrians or vehicles along the way. But over the years, Gwadar has changed dramatically, bringing a nearly abandoned port back to life and now hosting dozens of businesses."

Supported by significant Chinese investments, Gwadar Port is now important for regional logistics, Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, told CGTN. "Gwadar Port ensures over half of the land-sea connectivity for the region, forming an integrated framework encompassing air, land, sea, and digital networks." 

Zhang Jiegen, director of the Pakistan Studies Center at Fudan University, explained to CGTN that the completion of infrastructure projects like the airport and port is a hallmark achievement of CPEC's first phase. 

These developments provide a strong foundation for the high-quality growth anticipated in the next stage. Zhang said the CPEC project has generated numerous job opportunities in Pakistan, dramatically altering the country's economic landscape.

"As CPEC enters its second decade, China and Pakistan will continue to focus on maximizing the economic benefits of these projects, expanding industrial cooperation, and fostering regional connectivity," Zhang added.

China and Pakistan are also exploring opportunities for collaboration with third-party countries, particularly regional neighbors, to further leverage CPEC as a driver for regional integration. This would transform CPEC into a broader platform for promoting regional stability and economic growth.

Trade connectivity is at the forefront, and the next phase of industrial cooperation under the CPEC project will bring greater development opportunities for industrial integration, supply chain and value chain cooperation among regional countries, Zhang expected.