Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, has announced an ambitious plan to strengthen economic linkages between Pakistan and China through the regions of Gilgit Baltistan and Xinjiang. Speaking during his visit to Xinjiang University, PM Kakar emphasized the enormous potential for collaboration between these neighboring regions and their ability to enhance the well-being of their respective populations.
PM Kakar’s visit to Xinjiang followed his participation in the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, where he engaged with the Chinese leadership and foreign dignitaries. During his visit, he highlighted a mutual agreement reached in Beijing to transform the land border at Sost, Khunjerab, into an all-weather border, thus facilitating trade and the movement of people between the two nations.
Furthermore, PM Kakar underscored the significance of Gwadar as a pivotal component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), proposing a deepening of economic cooperation with China’s Kashgar and Karamay through their sister-city relationship. The aim is to harness Xinjiang’s successful agricultural modernization as an example and establish a joint agricultural demonstration zone in Pakistan to introduce modern farming techniques and practices.
In addition to agricultural collaboration, PM Kakar emphasized the importance of linking the industries of Xinjiang and Pakistan, with a specific focus on the Gilgit-Baltistan region and cooperation in the field of solar energy. The collaboration extends to various sectors, including culture, agriculture, tourism, education, and joint research, illustrating the comprehensive nature of the partnership.
Education plays a crucial role in strengthening these ties, and Pakistan is keen to send more students to study in China. Furthermore, PM Kakar extended an invitation to tourists from Xinjiang and other parts of China to explore the beauty and culture of Pakistan, highlighting that a recent group of Chinese tour operators had visited Pakistan and returned through the Sost Khunjerab border.
PM Kakar lauded Xinjiang’s rich diversity in culture and hospitality, recognizing the special place this region holds in the hearts of Pakistanis due to their neighborly connections. Xinjiang serves as more than just a trade route; it is a vital bridge connecting the two nations.
The relationship between Pakistan and China is characterized by trust, shared aspirations, and a deep-seated warmth that has been nurtured by successive generations. PM Kakar reaffirmed that Pakistan regards its ties with China as a longstanding strategic partnership.
As the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor enters a new phase, it continues to play a pivotal role in developing Pakistan’s infrastructure and improving the lives of its citizens. PM Kakar’s visit to China is seen as a vital step in charting a new roadmap and vision based on economic cooperation, people-to-people bonds, sustainable development, peace, stability, and academic and technical exchanges.
Furthermore, PM Kakar expressed Pakistan’s principled position on Xinjiang and offered unequivocal support to China regarding matters related to its core interests. He also addressed the situation in the Middle East, advocating for efforts to halt acts of violence against the people of Palestine.
During the visit, the Prime Minister interacted with Pakistani and Chinese students, expressing high hopes for them to act as bridges of friendship and brotherhood between their nations in the years to come. He also visited the History Museum at Xinjiang University, where he gained insights into the 99-year-old institution’s rich history.