In a remarkable display of unity, Pakistan’s mainstream political parties came together to express their unwavering support for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), underscoring their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and China.
The consensus was evident at the CPEC Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and 3rd Meeting of CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultative Mechanism, which was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) and member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee Liu Jianchao, who was on a three-day visit to Pakistan.
Prominent leaders, including Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, MQM’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Maulana Fazlur Rehman of JUI-F, Hina Rabbani Khar of PPP, Senator Syed Ali Zafar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Munazza Hassan of Istehkam Pakistan Party, National Party’s Senator Jan Muhammad, and other senior politicians participated in the event.
Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar emphasized the pivotal role of CPEC in Pakistan’s socioeconomic development. He highlighted its contribution to addressing the long-standing issue of load-shedding and emphasized the creation of numerous employment opportunities. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening people-to-people linkages and stressed the significance of CPEC in fostering economic and strategic cooperation between Pakistan and China.
Chinese Minister Liu Jianchao echoed the sentiment of solidarity, citing the recent agreements between the two countries as an opportunity to elevate their relationship. He emphasized the importance of party-to-party relations in advancing bilateral ties and expressed China’s commitment to fostering mutual understanding through educational and cultural exchanges.
Furthermore, Minister Liu announced initiatives to facilitate the interaction between the peoples of both countries, including inviting Pakistani parliamentarians to China, providing scholarships and vocational training to Pakistani youth, and organizing media exchanges to enhance understanding and bridge cultural gaps.
The overwhelming consensus among the political parties of Pakistan to strengthen the CPEC and bolster ties with China reflects a remarkable step towards regional connectivity and prosperity. This unified support sends a strong message of enduring friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and China, paving the way for mutually beneficial collaboration and development.
