Speakers at a seminar organized by the Punjab University's Pakistan Study Centre here on Monday observed that One Belt One Road (OBOR) is the revival of old silk route and a project of peace and prosperity.
Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Chawla, Director, Pakistan Study Centre, Dean, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Chairman, Department of History & Pakistan Studies, PU, in his presidential address said that silk route is an ancient route and OBOR is the revival of old silk route. With every passing day, Pakistan and China are coming closer and CPEC is the culmination of their relationship. Countries like US and India are scared of China's emergence as second super power of the world. They are creating hurdles in the development of CPEC & OBOR. Pakistan and China together will eliminate the obstacles to this joint project of peace and prosperity in the region. The development of infrastructure has mostly taken place and now the time has come to develop the least developed areas of Pakistan. There is no need of confusion about this project which is win-win for both the countries. Pakistan has no doubted in China's intentions and integrity.
The delegation from Jiangsu Normal University, China led by Prof Dr Sun Hongqi (Director of Pakistan Research Center), Prof. Zhang Shengzhen (Dean of the International College), Zhen Yutong, Deputy Dean of the International College and Professor Lou Zhengrong, Director of the Social Science Academy participated in the seminar.
Prof Sun expressed his views that OBOR was put forward in 2013, it has been welcomed by most countries of the world and reached great achievements. In the past five years the amount of trade between China and the countries along OBOR has enhanced rapidly and the construction of OBOR provided more than 200,000 jobs for local people. But some western countries, especially USA, don't like the BRI. They believe that the BRI is the Chinese version of Mashall Plan, and is a kind of globalization controlled by China. If let it go smoothly, China will rule the whole world. So USA set up some traps for China, or launched a trade war against China, trying to hinder China's development. India is also against OBOR, especially against CPEC, thought it has to change the attitude recently. CPEC is the most important part of OBOR, the flagship programme in BRI. China and Pakistan cannot allow the project failed. Jiangsu and Punjab are brother-provinces since 1993, and should join hands to construct CPEC and OBOR. Jiangsu Normal University and Punjab University have cooperated for many years and surely will play more positive roles in construction of CPEC and OBOR. Prof Zhang Shengzhen reviewed the Pak-China communication, then focuses on the potential cooperation in the field of education and enterprises. It is argued that the road and belt initiative will definitely benefit China and Pakistan in the long run. Muhammad Mehdi said that Pakistan desires new trade routes from its soil for the growth of economy and China is investing money in many countries. CPEC is one of them but CPEC has its own significance. China will reach deep Gwadar port from Xinjiang and it will be a strategic asset for China when we argue CPEC as a strategic asset Pakistan was a bridge between China and US in past. We can do it again in the light of CPEC. New dimensions on the world politics are emerged but in new circumstances Pakistan should find new ways to play a new positive role. Access to the Arabian Sea through the Gwadar port in Pakistan offers an alternative route for China's crude oil imports, offering Beijing energy security in case of instabilities in the Strait of Malacca.