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- June 22, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
At the third meeting of the Pakistan-China Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) of Political Parties on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Islamabad on Friday, a rare display of political unity was displayed when a visiting Chinese minister emphasized the importance of internal stability to Pakistan’s development. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and member of the Communist Party Central Committee Liu Jianchao, who is currently visiting Pakistan for three days, co-chaired the CPEC Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum, where the political unity across parties was demonstrated.
The JCM of Political Parties on CPEC was founded in 2019 and serves as a regular platform for interaction between Pakistani political parties and the Communist Party of China. Prior meetings were place digitally on August 20, 2020, and in Beijing on March 19, 2019. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Science and Technology Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, PTI Senator Ali Zafar, PPP Senator Hina Rabbani, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Fazlur Rehman, and other prominent political figures were present.
The leaders reaffirmed their steadfast resolve to defeat such evil plans to further develop the bilateral partnership between China and Pakistan. DPM Dar emphasized in his opening remarks the significance that CPEC has played as a catalyst for Pakistan’s socioeconomic development. “Development projects have not only helped create mass employment opportunities in Pakistan, but they have also helped alleviate chronic load-shedding issues,” he stated. The DPM said that during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China, both nations reached a consensus to carry out the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and to sign agreements about third-party involvement in the project.
Reiterating that Pakistan was dedicated to fostering people-to-people connections, he said that both nations have supported one another “through thick and thin.” Dar went on to say that CPEC was a key component of the strategic and economic engagement between Pakistan and China and that there was “complete unanimity” regarding its importance because it accelerated Pakistan’s efforts to achieve socioeconomic prosperity and regional connectivity. He stated that both nations were experiencing a top-notch second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with a focus on agriculture, information technology, industrial, and mining and mineral industries on both sides.
“Stability within a country is essential for that country’s development in a turbulent world of rising uncertainties,” Liu stated in his speech. Pakistan is cautiously making its way through choppy rivers and perilous coastlines while tackling difficult internal and foreign problems. “There can be no sustainable development unless all political parties in the nation work together to guarantee political and social stability.” He said China was striving hard to maintain a good balance of reform, development, and stability with each facet being “indispensable”.
Liu said the agreements signed during PM Shehbaz’s “very successful” visit provided an opportunity for the two countries to upgrade their ties to bring about desirable changes. He said the determination of both countries’ leaderships sent a “clear message to the world that the China-Pakistan friendship is unbreakable”. Calling party-to-party relations an integral part of bilateral relations, Liu said it is time that Pakistan’s political parties contributed their wisdom to turn the blueprint into reality by understanding each other’s development philosophy. He said the affinity between the two peoples was not commensurate with the iron-clad nature of their friendship and announced that the IDCPC would invite 300 Pakistani parliamentarians to China in three years besides providing scholarships and vocational training to Pakistani youth.
Addressing the JCM, Gilani said all political parties were committed to CPEC as it promoted collaboration in health, education, information technology, and other sectors besides its contribution to addressing the power woes of the country. He urged both sides to work together for a green and resilient future besides strengthening partnerships in the education and tourism sectors. Meanwhile, Sadiq said the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC ensured vigilant oversight of the government and followed up on the progress of the projects under CPEC through regular reporting to Parliament.
He reaffirmed the resolve of Parliament, the government, and the people of Pakistan to build on past successes and ensure that CPEC reached its full potential. Iqbal echoed a similar stance, reiterating that despite political differences, all political parties stood unanimous with regards to China and CPEC, and were committed to revitalizing the upgraded version. The minister expressed gratitude to China for including new corridors in CPEC that align with the 5 ‘Es’ framework, focusing on exports, equity, empowerment, environment, and energy. Meanwhile, Fazl expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership for its unconditional support of the Kashmir cause and reiterated Pakistan’s support on the Taiwan issue.
He said both countries had unanimity of views on multiple regional and regional issues, he said, and also called for completion of delayed CPEC projects. Senator Zafar said CPEC was “proof of the friendship” between Pakistan and China, adding that he hoped that the progress of the project would be hastened. He said political stability, understanding, and cooperation were needed in the country’s climate, along with the rule of law with effective courts.