Pakistan Ambassador Masood Khalid. (Photo/China.org.cn)
In his government work report delivered on March 5, 2016, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang mentioned China's Belt and Road Initiative several times when talking about China's 2016 work priorities and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).[Special coverage]
"With a commitment to achieving common development and shared growth through joint consultation, we will ensure that the Belt and Road Initiative creates bonds of peace, friendship and common prosperity," said Premier Li in the report at the opening ceremony of the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress.
This signals China's policy stance and promises fine tuning to support Belt and Road projects, as the report said that China will "quicken its Belt and Road construction and expand mutual cooperation to form a new comprehensively reformed landscape in 2016."
In an exclusive interview with China.org.cn on March 9, Pakistan Ambassador Masood Khalid shared his views regarding the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the prime section and a flagship project in China's Belt and Road Initiative.
China.org.cn: What significance do you think the Belt and Road Initiative has on countries along the routes as well as the regional economy?
Masood Khalid: China's Belt and Road Initiative is not just a passageway of cement, metal and concrete. It has a much deeper vision of connecting civilizations and bringing cultures of a diversified range of nations closer together. It aims to generate economic integration through massive infrastructure investments and technological innovation. The end product of this initiative is win-win prosperity for all.
Countries along the routes have very well understood the far-reaching impact of this initiative, and are already positively responding to the idea of regional interconnectedness.
China.org.cn: The CPEC is referred to as the prime section and a flagship project in China's Belt and Road Initiative. What roles will it play in deepening China's opening-up and in lifting Pakistan's economy?
Masood Khalid: As I said, the Belt and Road Initiative is a win-win prospect for all.
CPEC is the flagship project of the One Belt One Road [refers to the Belt and Road Initiative in Chinese expression]. Pakistan and China are moving full-speed ahead in developing the Corridor. CPEC aims to generate employment and business opportunities in both Pakistan and China, and increase private sector activity, joint ventures and the growth of industries. It will bring shared prosperity, win-win cooperation and development prospects.
Linking China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's deep-seaport of Gwadar will lead to the success of China's plans for the development of its Western region. In this way, it will create win-win prospects for both countries.
China.org.cn: We know that many projects have started along the Corridor. Could you share with us the current progress of the CPEC development? What are the fields of cooperation between China and Pakistan and other countries that have been enhanced by the current phase of CPEC construction?
Masood Khalid: As the southern node of China's One Belt One Road, the CPEC is a 2,700 km long stretch of rail, road and optic fiber links, which aims to connect China's Xinjiang with Pakistan's deep-sea port of Gwadar. There are plans for energy and infrastructure development and the establishment of industrial and special economic zones along the route. Some major energy projects have been launched while work on a number of infrastructure projects has also commenced.
We are moving at a fast pace to complete CPEC projects in a mutually agreed time frame.
China.org.cn: The CPEC has seen strong cooperation and willingness from both governments. How does the general public in Pakistan view the project?
Masood Khalid: CPEC enjoys strong support across the political spectrum in Pakistan. The general public view is that CPEC is an opportunity for increased employment, better business environment and improved livelihood in the country.
Pakistan's public has recently voted President Xi as the "Statesman of the Year." I think this says it all.
China.org.cn: How do we expand people-to-people exchange regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor?
Masood Khalid: I think people-to-people exchange is the key in maintaining sustainability in any relationship or long-term project.
The governments on both sides have attached high importance to it. People-to-people exchange can expand through increased interactions between academia, scholars, media personnel, business enterprises and students on both sides. This is how we can transfer the gains we make today into the future of our generations.
Since last year, when we celebrated the Year of Friendly Exchange, the two sides have stepped up bilateral cultural exchange and people-to-people contacts.
China.org.cn: How could the Belt and Road Initiative promote China-Pakistan relations?
Masood Khalid: The CPEC is the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. Through Gwadar, China will find an easier access into international trade and the energy market. For the people of our two countries, the CPEC is a gateway to improved livelihood and employment generation. As we build the CPEC, we are also promoting cultural collaboration between the two countries.
China.org.cn: 2016 is an important year for China and Pakistan as this year marks the 65th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, and the first year of China's 13th Five Year Plan, during which innovation will play a major role in the future development of China's economy. How will China and Pakistan strengthen and initiate their cooperation regarding economic and technological innovation?
Masood Khalid: This is indeed an important year in China-Pakistan diplomatic relations. It marks the 65th year of our friendly relations. It also begins China's efforts towards a knowledge-based technology-oriented market economy by fostering new engines of growth.
The 13th Five Year Plan elaborates concrete measures that China will take towards a knowledge-based technology-oriented market economy by fostering new engines of development and prioritizing S&T innovation, research and development. A coordinated development model, as envisioned in the Plan, would lead to overall development and prosperity across all regions of China.
This development model coincides with Pakistan Vision 2025, which envisions long-term economic development and prosperity for our people. The policies of the Government of Pakistan are geared towards enhancing regional connectivity and integration.
China.org.cn: If you could use one sentence to describe the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC respectively, what would they be?
Masood Khalid: The Belt and Road Initiative describes the spirit of openness and inclusivity, based on win-win cooperation for all.
The CPEC is the common dream of our two countries towards mutual benefit and regional prosperity.
