Daily Times

To ascertain the economic and security implications inherent in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which the Chinese call “One Belt One Road”, a Chinese delegation comprising the chairman of the China Group Companies Association (CGCA), Dr Zhang Chongqing, along with security experts from one of the leading Chinese security companies, CSS, are visiting Pakistan. A quick trip through three cities — Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore — saw them meet a large number of Pakistani entrepreneurs, academics, think tanks and a cross-section of civil society.
Established in 1987 as a national social group, the CGCA has over 200 enterprises as members. This includes IT and construction companies as well as commercial entities in the financial industry, aerospace, agriculture, security services, etc. Among the CGCA’s national activities is to provide policy guidelines to its member enterprises to support their efforts to go global.
Addressing widely attended breakfast meetings in Islamabad and Karachi, followed by a working lunch in Lahore, the chairman of CGCA said that Pakistan and China are the best of friends, having similar aims and objectives of addressing the poverty of the common man; moreover their economic ambitions as well as economies are complementary. He said that we have a lot to learn from each other and, at the same time, provide such support and services that not only facilitate trade but enhance it. Reciprocating the sentiments of a number of Pakistani entrepreneurs, Dr Chongqing called the CPEC an economic game-changer for Pakistan as well as a force-multiplier having enormous geo-political consequences. Speaking in his native Chinese language, Dr Chongqing said that China’s investment in Pakistan would help in boosting the country’s economy, besides strengthening ties between the two countries. “We see a lot of potential in the Pakistani people. We want to work with you as the sky is the limit.” He exhorted Pakistanis to use this unique opportunity to the good advantage of all.
While appreciating the resolve of Pakistanis to fight terrorism and extremism, he suggested Pakistan’s regulatory authorities should learn from their counterparts in China and implement their rules and regulations to get taxes and other duties from companies and private businesses. Dr Chongqing vowed to work with Pakistani officials and private companies on the CPEC and answered some tough questions asked by the participants.
Senator Mushahid Hussain, chairman of the parliamentary committee on the CPEC said that China’s spectacular uplift of its population out of poverty was unmatched. Within 25 years 500 million people, almost half the population, have been brought out of poverty into the middle class. “Smooth political succession after every 10 years is also a positive political sign and Pakistan should learn from the experience,” he said. The New Silk Road will connect 25 countries, the flagship project linking all these countries via Kashgar and Gwadar. China’s economic progress has been attained through hard work, instead of bullying its neighbours or grabbing the resources of other countries. “China has become a leading political contender in the global system in a short span of time and all credit goes to its hard working people and honest leadership.”
Besides helping build rail and road linkages among neighbours like Iran, Afghanistan and the Central Asian States, Senator Mushahid maintained that greater South Asia is emerging fast with the commencement of the CPEC: “The CPEC is a vote of confidence for the prosperous future of Pakistan and the potential present for it among the general public needs to be realised at the policy level. The 15-year-long $ 46 billion project will bring national unity to Pakistan and is not linked to any one government.” With respect to India’s opposition to the CPEC, he said it was ill-conceived, motivated and without any basis. Mushahid said that Pakistan had a history of overcoming external pressures and conspiracies when it came to its core national interests. He was of the firm belief that Pakistan would not compromise on this future-shaping project.
At the breakfast meeting in Karachi, Dr Ishrat Hussain, the dean of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi and the former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) remarked that the CPEC was indeed a game-changer in both the geo-political and geo-economic spectrums. As the head of Asia in the World Bank he has been an eyewitness to the extraordinary achievements of the Chinese wherein they took their per capita income from $ 150 about 25 years ago, comparable then to India and Pakistan, to over $ 5,000 today whereas India is about $ 1,500 and Pakistan is $ 1,350. He said the Chinese had achieved in seven years what the US had done in 100 years, doubling the per capita income during three successive seven to eight periods. By achieving such spectacular results, China made the greatest contribution to the millennium development goals (MDGs). The former chairman of the Civil Services Reforms Commission suggested that we needed to come out of the straitjacket of suffocating bureaucracy and, in essence, “let a 100 flowers bloom”.
The CGCA chairman expressed his resolve to open a representative office in Pakistan within the shortest possible time. He said this would be symbolic of China’s resolve to put maximum effort into the One Belt One Road concept. Dr Chongqing has coincidentally an emotional interest in the great leap that China is making to open up another route for trade and commerce. The great Chinese traveller Xuanzang was from Henan province. Born around 602 AD in Chenhe village, he was a Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar who later moved to a village in Chenggu county in Shaanxi province, next to where Dr Chongqing was born and brought up. Xuanzang became famous for his 17-year overland journey on foot to India in which he spent a great amount of time in Taxila. According to the Chinese philosopher Confucius, “Whosoever you go, go with all your heart.” What a coincidence that the chairman CGCA is traversing the path of his ancestor, a symbolic age-old commitment of the Chinese people to open this age-old route to economic prosperity.
Professor Chongqing’s closing remarks spelt out the tone and tenor of the close and cordial relations between Pakistan and China; of utmost importance for each other, these are based on deep-rooted mutual national interests. Pointing to the great investment made by China Mobile in Pakistan, over three billion dollars, easily the most by any single corporate entity, he said it encapsulates China’s commitment to the future of the One Belt One Road concept symbolising cooperation and understanding between the two countries in economic and other vital areas. China-Pakistan cooperation will only deepen and expand further with the passage of time.

The writer is a defence analyst and security expert