We now continue our special series "The Big Picture". Today, we focus on border security. China's extensive frontier with multiple nations poses a real challenge to its security, a factor which can impact on a country's economic growth. The China-India standoff earlier this year demonstrated just how sensitive these border areas can be. CGTN's Han Bin went to the Khunjerab Pass on the China-Pakistan border and a strategic point of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to assess the security situation there.

 

High in the Pamir Mountains.Janidin Jomajan's family lives in the closest Chinese village to the border with Pakistan.

 

"I love the snowy mountains and green grassland. I feel life is happy living in such a beautiful natural place."

 

Like many herdsmen in the village, they graze livestock on the pasture and help protect the border. Their familiarity with the environment allows them to observe movement and changes. The family is grateful that the China-Pakistan border enjoys stable peace.

 

JANIDIN JOMAJAN, HERDSMAN KHUNJERAB PASS BORDER GUARD "Starting from my father, my family has been helping the People's Liberation Army soldiers on border security. We've experienced extreme cold and heat. We are honored to help them."

 

15 border soldiers now serve at this outpost. Facilities and equipment have been improved over the years. The soldiers guard the Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved international border crossing in the world.

 

LT. JIAO DONGTAO KHUNJERAB PASS, XINJIANG "The snow was so thick in winter that the car couldn't come up. Every morning the soldiers had to walk so hard to reach the outpost. Changing the guard took great effort."

 

Jiao Dongtao and his fellow soldiers know the path of duty. They're in charge of only 5 kilometers, but it's a crucial 5 kilometers. It's been reported that some terrorists who plotted attacks in Xinjiang were trained in other countries, and were trying to infiltrate through Khunjerab.

 

LT. JIAO DONGTAO KHUNJERAB PASS, XINJIANG "We take border security very seriously. Our company has adopted a series of measures, including extension of patrol time, increasing the number of border guards, and using herdsmen as border guards, as well as joint patrols with Pakistani soldiers. All these are to guarantee border security and stability."

 

HAN BIN KHUNJERAB PASS, XINJIANG "The Tajiks live in relative isolation in the Pamir Mountain range of west China, bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. They have long held a tradition to protect the borders. The local herdsmen have also become border guards."

 

Janidin Jomajan helps the outpost inspections several hours a day. His main responsibility is to watch for anything or anyone suspicious. The Khunjerab Pass has seen China-Pakistan relations strengthened through the Economic Corridor. This key section of the Korakorum Highway links China's western frontier with Pakistan's naval base at Gawadar.

 

JANIDIN JOMAJAN, HERDSMAN KHUNJERAB PASS BORDER GUARD "The soldiers leave their own hometowns to protect the border. I want to protect my homeland together with them."

 

LT. JIAO DONGTAO KHUNJERAB PASS, XINJIANG "I hope we can always see peace at the Khunjerab Pass. And let our motherland and people rest assured."

 

Jiao Dongtao believes security becomes even more important when the area is opened up to trade.