Chinese Vice Premier's Pak visit for CPEC anniversary more blitz than substance
Premier He Lifeng's visit to Pakistan last week to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was more of a blitz than substance as the much-hyped corridor is making limited progress on the ground. President Arif Alvi conferred Pakistan’s second-highest civil award, the Hilal-i- Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan), on the Chinese official but despite the grandeur surrounding He’s visit and the signing of certain bilateral agreements, the outcome ultimately lacked substantial progress, ET has learnt.
He met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir. But the Pakistan Foreign Minister was missing in action during the trip.
And compounding the situation, the coalition government led by Shehbaz Sharif imposed a three-day shutdown of Islamabad during the visit of the Chinese Vice Premier due to significant “security concerns.” The progress on CPEC projects has been hit by Pakistan struggling to keep up its financial obligations, as well as terror attacks on Chinese workers and nationals. There have been multiple claims that the vast influx of the CPEC investment does not benefit locals in marginalised provinces like Balochistan.
Several violent protests have taken place in the province against the increasing Chinese presence, especially in Gwadar, resulting in delays of CPEC projects and causing financial damage to the already dwindling Pakistani economy. China has once again emphasised the “third” countries investment in CPEC projects.
But for China, the failure of CPEC, a “flagship” project, would constitute a significant setback for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is facing troubles in other countries as well. Consequently, Beijing
. Read more on economictimes.indiatimes.com
