Ties with China based on mutual respect: Bilawal

FM sees bilateral trade relationship to flourish further


APP January 22, 2023
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari —AFP Photo

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BEIJING:

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the bilateral trade relationship with China is expected to flourish further, thanks to win-win cooperation between the two countries in the fight against climate change and investments in renewable energy.

“Over the last 71 years, successive generations of leaders have nurtured bilateral ties between Pakistan and China,” he said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland this week.

"Our relationship is based on mutual respect, trust and understanding. Both countries support each other on issues of core interest. Pakistan and China believe in promoting regional peace and stability and share a common dream of national development and prosperity," he said.

“Pakistan-China relations have also grown thanks to new initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China in 2013,” he said.

The foreign minister emphasized that Pakistan and China today have a multi-faceted partnership. "We have robust strategic and defense cooperation. Our economic and trade relations are rapidly advancing, ... entering a new phase with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Our financial, investment and industrial sectors maintain close links," he said.

"China has become the top destination for Pakistan's students and there are strong links between our people nurtured by artists, academia, the scientific community and the media," he said.

Launched in 2013, CPEC is a corridor linking Gwadar Port with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is aimed at boosting energy, transport and industrial cooperation.

With investments in the country's modern transportation networks including roads and railways, energy projects, ports and special economic zones, CPEC has provided the opportunity for Pakistan to promote development and economic growth.

Regarding the bilateral trade outlook between China and Pakistan, he said that economic relations are the centerpiece of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

Trade relations with China have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, he added. "China is among our top export markets and the largest source of foreign direct investment. Both our countries also have an extensive Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) that is contributing to our wide-ranging economic relationship."

Since 2013, the CPEC has added a new dimension to the two countries' multifaceted economic relations, especially in energy, infrastructure, trade and investment, the foreign minister said.

This cooperation has expanded to include the areas of agriculture, socio-economic development, science and technology and IT, he added. In the future, CPEC will not only provide opportunities for China and Pakistan, but also for third parties from around the world.

Bilawal Bhutto said he is also keen to expand cooperation with China on renewable energies and the fight against climate change.

"In renewables, Pakistan and China have undertaken a number of major solar, wind, and hydroelectric projects. We also welcome Chinese enterprises to join Pakistan's Solar Power Initiative, which seeks to respond to human-induced climate change, notwithstanding Pakistan's own negligible contributions," he said.

The Annual WEF Meeting 2023 was held in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 16-20, under the theme of "Cooperation in a Fragmented World." 

COMMENTS (9)

test1 | 1 year ago | Reply We are open We were open and We will always be open for strategic partnerships but only if other countries move their industries and factories to Pakistan for manufacturing otherwise lick my boots. And I am sure our elite class with their power political and personal wealth agendas they will not let foreign companies to start manufacturing products in Pakistan without asking for kickbacks and commissions under the table. The only way is to get rid of elite class otherwise I would say that people should fuck themselves and stop complaining about the economic fallout that is happening today.
test | 1 year ago | Reply Ties with China are based on relocation of industries from China to Pakistan which means technology transfer skill and expertise sharing so that Pakistan can produce locally manufactured electronics vehicles vehicle parts heavy industrial equipment medical equipment smartphones electrical appliances defense equipment nuclear reactors engines avionics etc. If the above is not achieved then does its purpose is loans or begging Hmm And people will be innocent and mazlums that they even don t know why no single manufacturing plant was setup in Pakistan Simply because our elite class didn t wanted to end their eliticism and infact our elite class trapped China into investing in Pakistan to destroy their BRI of which CPEC is a critical part. Does it even ring something Just think why no country moved its factories to Pakistan elite didn t want them to. So I am gonna say that Pakistani policy makers in general and Pakistan Elite class in particular doesn t even know the meaning of diplomacy foreign relations and technology transfer but all the elite class can do is to fight each other to gain wealth and power at the expense of the suffering of the entire nation and then when the situation is terrible then beg like professional beggars. We are open to partnership with any country if they want to move their factories and industries to Pakistan but I know our elite class will not let that happen. Mark my words and mark them well.
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