Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can also be a catalyst for regional economic integration, which is the main objective of building a community of shared destiny. Addressing Beijing Forum here at NUST, he said that CPEC will also complement China's broader vision of building a Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road in the 21st century.
"It would be a factor for stability and prosperity in the region with the potential to alleviate poverty and create employment," he said, adding CPEC is the flagship project for realising this vision. By linking the Gwadar port via the Karakoram Highway with Xinjiang, he said that the CPEC was a transformational project for the economies of the two countries.
He pointed out that Pakistan was strategically located at the confluence of three vital regions of the world - South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia. Pakistan provides the shortest access to the sea for all the landlocked countries of Central Asia and to western China, he added. "Common development and 'win-win cooperation' holds the key. China and Pakistan, through their exemplary ties, can provide a road map for realising this vision," he said.
He believed that the dream of a better tomorrow and 'common destiny' can be achieved through enhanced regional connectivity and integration. "Trans-national roads, rails, oil and gas pipelines, institutions of higher learning, centers of excellence of scientific innovations and better performing financial sector would be real drivers of growth," he said, adding regional connectivity is also one of seven core elements of the present government's 'Vision 2025'.
Referring to the emerging mechanism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), he said that with new members, it will enable us to ensure mutual security and shared prosperity in the region. Pakistan shares the same geographical and cultural fabric as other SCO members, he added. He also commended the Chinese initiative and leadership in transforming the multilateral financial system, by establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
He said that the Bank's openness and inclusiveness reflect its multilateral nature. "Its desire to welcome all regional and non-regional countries, developing and developed countries has promoted its image as an 'equitable, fair and democratic' institution," he said, adding the Silk Road Fund and the BRICS Bank can also contribute to these objectives. Aziz said that one of the biggest challenges to global peace and security is the scourge of terrorism. He said that terrorism is also a common enemy of Pakistan and China, adding that the two countries are determined to fight the evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism. He said that over the years, the two countries have been co-operating successfully to frustrate terrorists bent upon undermining our security.
"Pakistan and China are entwined so closely that any move to hurt China's security in Xinjiang hurts us simultaneously. Our solidarity in this regard is rock solid," he said, adding China recognises the tremendous sacrifices Pakistan has made in the war against terrorism. "We deeply appreciate China's support to our efforts to uphold our sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity," he added.
He pointed out that Pakistan has always supported the 'One China' policy, adding Pakistan fully supports China's great cause of national unification and all the efforts of the Chinese government in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Talking about celebration of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, he said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the friendship has continued to grow from strength to strength in an upward trajectory. "It is termed as a model state-to-state relationship," he added.
He emphasised that the friendship between Pakistan and China will gain further strength in the coming years. "Together we shall contribute to charting the course towards a 'Community of Common Destiny for All Mankind' by making conscious efforts to build a harmonious region, through mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilisations and pursuit of common development," he added. He said that the two countries would continue to join hands in consulting each other on all issues of regional and global importance for adopting a common approach to tackle all challenges.