Chinese VP visit

Among the renewed vows, the Chinese VP stated that Pakistan and China should collaboratively work for humanity

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan received a warm welcome in Islamabad, as expected. His three-day visit has continued busy with project inaugurations and discussing finances along with a commitment to China’s friendship with Pakistan. The commitment, of course, will remain for mutually beneficial projects and road networks currently being built. Increased trade will be to the advantage of both nations, despite the terrible economic front presently being faced by Pakistan and the challenges of imports and exports. Whether there is more in this for China or Pakistan, the latter should be grateful for the friendship during a time when Pakistan does not have too many friends.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has rescued Pakistan in many respects – such as in the energy and trade sectors. Projections state that Pakistan’s GDP could grow as much as 10 per cent owing to CPEC. Traders eagerly await that growth. It is lucky that as we take out more loans, certain parts of the CPEC project will not need to be repaid as returned loans.

Caution is to be heeded, however, while the Chinese vice president and Islamabad talk of future plans. Security issues have increased as of the past year or so with attacks on Chinese employees as well as attacks targeting others in sensitive areas. While the top leadership discusses further economic partnerships and projects, law enforcement needs to consider beefing up security. Security seemed to be controlled at the start of the projects, but has faltered in recent times.

Among the renewed vows, the Chinese vice president stated that Pakistan and China should collaboratively work for humanity. However, while on the one hand we appreciate Chinese interest in Pakistan, one cannot overlook the hardships faced by minorities in China. Both nations have certain aspects of humanity to work on, apart from economic improvement to facilitate the people. Separately, the diaspora of Chinese citizens to Pakistan is a positive direction. Indeed, our relationship with the world’s second-largest economy needs to be nurtured, but with full commitment from both sides. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2019.

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