Editor's note: Zamir Ahmed Awan is a professor at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan; a non-resident fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, a sinologist and a former diplomat. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
It has been announced that the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, will visit Pakistan from September 7-9 at the invitation of his counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Wang Yi's visit will be very important as this will be his first trip to Pakistan since the general election there on July 25.
A new government headed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came into power and the party's chairman Imran Khan became the new prime minister. However, there were many misconceptions about his PTI all over the world.
The West was propagating him as a “Taliban Khan” hardliner and conservative. Even in China, the PTI was not considered very friendly and there was worry about the future of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Under the CPEC China has invested heavily in Pakistan, but its importance was above economic interests. It was a strategic partnership covering all dimensions of friendship.
However, just a day after winning the election, Imran Khan made his maiden speech and announced that China is a very important friend and trustworthy partner in development. He supported CPEC and expressed his interest in working closely with China.
He not only declared China as a role model for development and his desire to learn the Chinese experience of eradicating poverty, but expressed his desire to learn from China how to fight against corruption. He established a China Cooperation Unit in his government and appointed his trustworthy close friend Dr Shahzad Wassem to lead this unit.
Cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), speaks after voting in the general election in Islamabad, July 25, 2018./ VCG Photo
Imran Khan constituted a nine-member high powered cabinet committee for the CPEC to be headed by the Minister of Planning, Development and Reforms Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar.
The members of the committee are Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Law and Justice Naseem, Minister for Finance Asad Umar, Minister for Petroleum Division Ghulam Sarwar, Minister for Railway Sheikh Rashid and the PM's advisers on commerce, textiles, industry, production and investment.
The committee will focus on the CPEC and its related issues. It is a very high level and powerful committee which will focus on the progress of the projects in various areas of energy, infrastructure and industrialization.
More emphasis will be given to special economic zones (SEZs). The prime minister also has constituted several other committees on various areas like energy and privatization and an economic council.
Pakistani technicians work at a power grid station in Faisalabad, Pakistan./ VCG Photo
The new government is aware of national issues and priorities. Economic development is at the top of the agenda. The CPEC is the mode of economic development in Pakistan. The government is giving China a very high priority and committed to turning CPEC into a more beneficial and fruitful endeavor for both countries.
The new government is in the stage of planning and consultation. The federal cabinet may be expanded and the induction of professionals and advisers in various positions in government are ongoing, as only a strong team can take the nation out of the crisis.
The new Minister of Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, held an important meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing, to discuss Pakistan-China relations and the future of CPEC.
The minister stressed the importance of creating more and more employment opportunities for the local population which he wished to tap through CPEC. They discussed how to implement China’s development model in Pakistan.
Tourism, industrialization and agriculture were identified as priority areas. Development of SEZs is in the planning stage and close consultation is going on with the Chinese to learn from their experience.
The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing. /VCG Photo
The Chinese ambassador assured the minister that he will request his government to bring Chinese investors to Pakistan to aid Pakistan's economy.
In fact, the new Government is more serious on CPEC and giving it very high importance. The Chinese side has been requested to extend its best possible cooperation to the new government and make the best use of new incentives and policies for the benefit of both countries.
A stronger and prosperous Pakistan, with Chinese assistance, may be more proud of China too. Let the two “Iron Brothers” enhance cooperation and set up an example of international friendship and cooperation for the rest of the world.
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