Moin ul Haque, Pakistani Ambassador to China

The recent cooperation in developing the Rashakai special economic zone (SEZ) demonstrates that CPEC has entered a new phase of development. Besides being a hub that will increase regional connectivity, CPEC is also seeking to improve the business environment and attract investment, changing the destiny of the local people.

At the invitation of Belt and Road Portal (BRP), Moin ul Haque, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, shared his views and expectations of the potential for cooperation with China under the BRI.

BRP: Which aspects of the BRI have impressed you most over the past seven years? How would you evaluate the latest achievements of the BRI?

Haque: The BRI is a comprehensive, wide-ranging, and transnational project to promote regional cooperation, integration, and connectivity. It has connected countries across continents and oceans. Today, over 130 countries have joined the BRI, testifying to its global appeal and utility. As President Xi Jinping in his recent address to United Nations General Assembly stated, it is a platform for shared future.

The BRI has revived the legacy of the ancient Silk Route linking cultures and communities, helping the movement of goods and people, sharing of ideas and information, promoting mutual trust and understanding.

More importantly, the initiative has been successful in putting the focus on the wellbeing of the individual. BRI’s various projects are creating jobs, reducing poverty, and improving the livelihoods of the people. In my view, this people-centric approach is a key feature and achievement of the BRI.

BRP: Given the complicated global context amid the COVID-19 pandemic, could you give some specific examples of the opportunities that the BRI has brought to your country?

Haque: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire global community. It has impacted our way of life. International travel has been disrupted, economies have suffered and health systems are overwhelmed.

Pakistan too was impacted by this crisis. However, the government took timely measures to control the pandemic and the continuity of economic activities, while giving a special focus on the wellbeing of vulnerable sections of society.

Our talented engineers, scientists and manufacturers rose to the occasion by producing test kits, masks, essential emergency equipment and ventilators too.

We are also grateful to China for providing critical support to Pakistan in these difficult times. China and Pakistan are now cooperating in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19, for which phase-3 trials are being conducted jointly by pharmaceutical companies of both countries in Pakistan. We are reassured by the announcement of President Xi that whenever a vaccine is developed, it will be a public good and will be accessible to developing countries.

BRP: China and Pakistan lifted their bilateral ties to an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership in 2015 and have been pushing forward the partnership ever since. Which sectors will see further cooperation between China and Pakistan in the coming years?

Haque: The spectrum of Pakistan-China friendship is very wide, deep and diverse. We cooperate in all areas; from defence to security, trade to investment, culture to education. The CPEC, which is a pilot/flagship project of the BRI, has become a strong pillar of the China-Pakistan bilateral relationship. It is a mega project of infrastructure development, energy, transport and telecommunication.

In phase-2, we are going to focus on the areas of agriculture, science and technology and tourism. There will be special focus on socio-economic development and poverty alleviation.

Under the CPEC, we are also establishing nine SEZs, where enterprises from China and other countries can set up their businesses and manufacturing facilities. This new and important dimension of industrial cooperation under the CPEC will greatly help businessmen and investors of both countries.

BRP: The CPEC has attracted a great deal of global attention. In your opinion, how has the project progressed in recent years? Are there any development challenges amid the pandemic? How should we work together to solve these problems?

Haque: Since its launch in 2016, CPEC has made steady progress towards increasing connectivity between Pakistan, China and the region at large. In its early-harvest phase, CPEC focused on addressing bottlenecks in physical infrastructure and providing the requisite environment for sustained economic growth.

As a result, the major power shortages affecting Pakistan a decade ago have largely been addressed. A high-quality network of motorways and highways connects production centers with ports and markets. The upgrade of the Railway Main Line I will further enhance communication links and add to our competitive edge. The development of Gwadar Port is relieving congestion at our existing ports and creating a new engine of development in southwest Pakistan.

As CPEC enters a new phase of development, we have broadened its scope to new areas: industrial capacity relocation, agriculture modernization, socioeconomic development, science and technology and tourism.

Taken together with infrastructure improvements in the early-harvest phase, our current focus is creating drivers of high-quality and sustainable growth, and realizing multiplier effects. CPEC is thus living up to its potential as a flagship of the BRI.

The unprecedented and sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic certainly brought about a new set of issues like disruption of supply lines and travel links. Special measures for epidemic-prevention to ensure the safety of workers and continuity of project work were required.

As we make headway against the pandemic, connectivity initiatives such as CPEC will become increasingly important. I am happy to note that in China, the situation is well under control, while in Pakistan the pandemic conditions are also stabilizing. This will help us in resuming economic exchanges and bringing the development agenda back on track.

BRP: What are the challenges involved in the BRI cooperation? What can be done to address these issues?

Haque: The underlying philosophy of the BRI is to promote peace, economic stability, regional prosperity, connectivity and socio-economic development. To achieve this, it is essential to have mutual trust and understanding, respect for each other’s cultures and governance systems, non-interference in others’ internal affairs and foster friendly relations and harmonious co-existence.

In today’s world marked by conflict, mistrust, unilateralism, protectionism, it is important for the BRI participating countries to support international solidarity and cooperation, promote free trade and strengthen multilateralism.