Daily Times

UNITED NATIONS: A Chinese minister Friday brushed aside Indian concerns over the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying it is an economic cooperation project, not related to any third party.

“It (CPEC) is not related to their (Indian) sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Dai Dongchang, China’s Minister of Transport, said in response to the objections voiced by an Indian delegate at the virtual briefing on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Transport for Global Development. The Indian delegate, Sneha Dubey, said they cannot accept the inclusion of CPEC, the Belt and Road Initiative’s flagship project, claiming that it passes through India’s territory.

The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, is aimed at ushering in a new era of trade and growth for economies in Asia and beyond. The $60 billion CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port with China’s Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of the BRI. In his introductory remarks China’s UN Ambassador, Zhang Jun, said President Xi, who attended the leaders’ summit of COP15 (conference of parties) and the opening ceremony of the sustainable transport conference in Kunming, China, had called for putting development on top of global agenda.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, highlighted Pakistan’s collaboration with China, saying that the CPEC was one of the largest rail and road connectivity projects in the world. “We’ll be opening the Gwadar Port, and its use for transit trade with Central Asia and China,” he said, adding CPEC would lead to the progress and prosperity of the entire region. “We are heartened by the possibility of restoration of peace in Afghanistan, which will increase the level of connectivity of these adjacent regions of Asia,” the Pakistani envoy said.

The development of ecological civilization, proposed by the Chinese president, could guide the international community on a path to sustainable development, he said. Ambassador Akram urged all developed countries to follow the footprints of China, to ensure predictable adequate and concessional finances for developing countries to meet climate goals and the biodiversity targets. Enumerating Pakistan’s contribution to global biodiversity, Ambassador Akram said that its 10 billion trees tsunami is the largest reforestation project in the country’s history.

Pakistan has also embarked upon various infrastructure development programs to enhance regional connectivity, improve the efficiency of transport and trade, and logistics. “Our vision is to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and modern means of communications, which effectively supports the economy, and acts as a catalyst for the socio-economic growth of the country,” he said. Pakistan, he said, is committed to the UN agenda for Road Safety, which was approved in 2018, saying it would save many lives.

Other speakers, including UN Under-Secretary-General, LIU Zhenmin, CBD Executive Secretary, Elizabeth Mrema, and Chinese ministers, including Zhao Yingmin, Minister of Ecology and Environment, and Dai Dongchang, Transport Minister. Friday’s event was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of China, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and Conservation of Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat.