Pakistani civilian, military leaders tell China ‘fully committed’ to success of CPEC projects

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met the Pakistani prime minister and foreign minister as well as army chief on Monday, with all three leaders reaffirming their commitment to the successful completion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

During to a visit to Beijing in October 2023, Pakistani PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said Pakistan had completed more than 50 projects worth $25 billion under the CPEC, a flagship scheme under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (PRI) with more than $65 billion pledged for road, rail and other infrastructure developments.

But separatist and other militants have attacked Chinese projects in Pakistan over recent years, killing Chinese personnel and raising alarm about the security of foreign investments and workers.

“Recalling his visit to Beijing for the 3rd Belt and Road Forum in October 2023, the Prime Minister said he was deeply touched by the warm sentiments of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang toward Pakistan,” Kakar’s office said in a statement after his meeting with Sun, who is visiting Islamabad. 

“The Prime Minister said Pakistan was fully committed to the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and stressed the need for both sides to continue to work closely to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects.”

Foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani also received Sun at his office today and “held an in-depth discussion on the entire gamut of bilateral relations including CPEC and bilateral economic and financial cooperation,” the Pakistani foreign office said.

“Jilani emphasized the significance of CPEC for Pakistan. He said that Pakistan would continue making efforts for realization of CPEC’s full potential for shared benefits,” the statement quoted the Pakistani FM as saing.

Sun also called on General Syed Asim Munir, chief of army staff (COAS), at the military headquarters in Rawalpindi and “acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts toward regional peace and stability and also conveyed China’s satisfaction on security arrangements for CPEC projects.”

Ties between the two militaries stretch back years, with their navies and air forces holding bilateral exercises in each other’s territory.

For China, Pakistan and its access to the Arabian Sea is key in the event of a maritime blockade in the Strait of Malacca.

But Chinese interest in the region has stirred concern, especially in neighboring India after China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti on the northwestern fringe of the Indian Ocean in 2017.

So far, China has not disclosed if it had sought military access to Pakistan’s Chinese-funded, deepwater port of Gwadar.

The Pentagon previously identified Pakistan as a possible location for a future Chinese military base, with Gwadar seen as the likely location. Any sign of that happening would fuel New Delhi’s worries of growing Chinese military alliances and assets in its own backyard.