Beijing, 5 June 2023 (TDI): Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque, met with the Administrator of the National Railway Administration, Fei Dongbin, in Beijing, China. The ML-1 project was the main agenda of the meeting.
During the meeting, Ambassador Moin ul Haque and Administrator Fei Dongbin discussed the progress of the ML-1 project and reaffirmed the early implementation of the project.
Pakistan and China have been strong strategic partners in the region for a long time. China is recognized for being a major global manufacturing hub, producing goods at low costs with skilled workers.
China’s economy heavily relies on fast connectivity with the rest of the world. To achieve this, China introduced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a grand plan for better global connectivity.
As part of the BRI, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched in April 2015. The CPEC aspires to transform Pakistan’s economy and provide China with easy access to the deep-sea port of Gwadar in Pakistan.
Also Read: Pakistan acknowledges China’s contribution to CPEC Success
Various projects were launched under CPEC, and China invested almost $62 billion in Pakistan to complete this project. The ML-1 initiative is one of the flagship projects under the CPEC and is designed to upgrade and modernize Pakistan’s railway infrastructure, connecting Karachi in the south to Peshawar in the north.
The project is expected to boost trade and economic activity between Pakistan and China by providing faster and more efficient transportation of goods.
Ambassador Moin ul Haque expressed his appreciation for China’s support in this important project and emphasized that it will play a key role in strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
Administrator Dongbin assured the Ambassador that China remains committed to completing the project on time.
Overall, it will be a lifeline for Pakistan if the project is completed on time, and it might help to uplift the country’s drowning economy.
China’s Influence in the Region
China has long held aspirations of becoming a global superpower, and its strategic planning reflects this ambition. However, in the evolving landscape of world politics, a notable shift has occurred. China has realized that a nation cannot truly progress unless the entire region progresses alongside it.
As such, China has been working towards fostering stronger relationships with its neighboring countries through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
These efforts have not only helped boost economic growth in the region but have also allowed China to exert greater influence on the global stage. Additionally, China has been investing heavily in technological advancements, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
This has enabled China to become a leader in these fields and further cement its position as a major player in the world. However, challenges remain for China, particularly regarding human rights issues and tensions with other major powers such as the United States.
Nevertheless, China’s strategic planning and efforts toward regional cooperation have put it on a path toward achieving its goal of becoming a global superpower.
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