Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
China is a friend in need and a friend indeed. China believes in investment, business, economic development, employment generation, sharing of resources. Pakistan and China,have 73 years of diplomatic friendship, however, it is centuries old when Chinese Monks and travelers visited Taxila and other places in areas including today’s Pakistan and brought Buddhism and Gandhara art to China. China’s friendship is based on love, peace, mutual respect, and trust. It is not the relation of master and slave like some powers have with weaker nations. China is the factory of the world. In 1970 its global production contribution was only 3% now it is 25%, it is exporting to about 200 countries and producing about 80% of the world’s air conditioners, 70 % of mobiles, 60% of shoes, 74% of solar panels, 60 % cement, 50% coal, 45% ship building, 50% steel, is being produced by just one country “CHINA”. It is now the world’s largest economy with GDP of $ 35.03 trillion (PPP). It is also the largest exporter in the world with $ 3.38 trillion in export. Surprisingly, 90% of American flags were also manufactured by China. It is normally thought that China can only produce cheap goods but people are highly surprised when they are told that 60% of the most branded luxurious items are produced in China. In the 1970s it was poorer than African countries. In 1978 its per capita was just 155 dollars while it jumped to $13,155 which is a 50 times increase. It lifted more than 800 million people from poverty. Its mass production policies destroyed the price structure of most of the world’s famous companies and countries. It has a competitive edge over many countries due to its mass-scale production. Its workforce is highly trained, efficient, active, vibrant, and experienced. China has been the largest economy in the world by PPP since 2014, the world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP since 2010, and the largest economy in Eurasia. Since the introduction of economic reforms in 1978, China’s economy has been the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with annual growth rate consistently above 10%. According to the World Bank China’s GDP grew $ 150 billion in 1978 to US$ 12.24 trillion by 2017. China also recorded the fastest rise in GDP per capita in the world from 1960 to 2018. China is the largest exporter and second-largest importer of the world after America. One of the world’s foremost infrastructural giants China has the world’s largest bullet train network, and the most super tall skyscrapers in the world. China borders 14 countries, more than any other country except Russia.
China has made clear in its policy that it will stick to the peaceful development path and will not indulge in confrontation, hegemony, and spheres of influence, nor it will bully or impose on others its ideology. Peace and development are China’s DNA. China believes in an equal, balanced, and orderly multipolar world where every country must be given fair chances to grow, prosper, and flourish. For prosperity, development, and progress China has adopted four unique initiatives.
- The Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 (BRI)
- The Global Development Initiative in 2021 (BDI)
- The Global Security Initiative in 2022 (GSI)
- The Global Civilization Initiative in 2023 (GCI) and The Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative (GAIGI) 2023
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road, is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever conceived. Launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, the vast collection of development and investment initiatives was originally devised to link East Asia and Europe through physical infrastructure. In the decade since, the project has expanded to Africa, Oceania, and Latin America, significantly broadening China’s economic and political influence.The countries (excluding Palestine) of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are spread across all continents:
- 44 countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa
- 34 BRI countries are in Europe & Central Asia
- 25 BRI countries are in East Asia & Pacific (including China)
- 22 BRI countries are in Latin America & Caribbean
- 19 BRI countries in the Middle East & North Africa
- 6 countries are in South East Asia
This also includes
- 17 countries of the European Union (EU), and
- 8 countries of the G20.
According to the World Bank Report,the BRI will grow trade of participating countries by 2.8 % to 9.7 % and global trade by 1.7% to 6.2% by 2030. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a flagship project of BRI has brought into Pakistan about US$ 25.4 billion in investment, 2.5 million jobs, 600 kilometers of roads, transmission lines, plus hospitals, vocational training schools, and state-of-the-art modern airport and the Gwadar port. China believes that development should be the priority for any country, and remain on top of the international agenda. China is also helping Pakistan in alleviating poverty endeavors, and capacity-building efforts. China is also helping Pakistan to achieve the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (UNSGs 2030). China also supports Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
The successful launch of the Qamar I cube lunar explorer and the Paksat MMI communication satellite have further uplifted Pakistan and China’s longstanding friendship from the land boundary to the outer space frontier.
30,000 Pakistani students are getting high-quality education from Chinese Universities and institutes.
The first unit of the China-built Suki Kinari Hydropower project in northwest Pakistan was started up and formally entered the wet testing phase on 16th June 2024 Sunday.
China’s friendship with Pakistan is the blessing of Almighty Allah and every Pakistani understands it, no power on earth can break this friendship. I am proud that I am part of these historical efforts to enhance this friendship and dedicated my pen and creativity to this cause.