Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is paying an official visit to the People's Republic of China on invitation from 1 to 2 November 2022. This is Prime Minister Shabazz's first visit to China since taking office.

Construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Prime Minister Shabazz reiterated the Pakistani government's commitment to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China, stressing that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, has made significant contribution to Pakistan's economic and social development.

The two sides agreed that the upgrading and upgrading project of Pakistan Railway Line 1 is an important project under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is of great significance to Pakistan's economic and social development. They agreed to push forward the implementation of the project at an early date in accordance with the consensus of the leaders of the two countries. The two sides agreed to actively promote the Karachi Ring Railway project, which is urgently needed in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city.

The cost of the project is estimated at $6.8 billion. The project is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement and is the highest investment project to date, and its construction cost is shared by both countries.

According to reports in Pakistan, when the project is completed, the speed of passenger trains will be increased from 65-110 km/h to 165 km/h. Line capacity will increase from 34 trips a day to 137-171. Mor will set up a project steering committee to supervise the implementation of the project effectively. The meeting also decided to build a land port near Havelian.

Pakistan's existing railway, built in 1861, is 2,655 km long, local media reported. After the upgrade, the railway will no longer have level crossings, which will effectively prevent accidents. In the future, people will travel from Lahore to Karachi in seven hours.

The two sides agreed that Gwadar Port is a leading project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and an important node in regional connectivity. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the completion of key projects and agreed to speed up the Gwadar Port and other projects in the free Zone.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important milestone in the history of China-Pakistan friendship. It is also a pilot project among the six major economic corridors under the Belt and Road Initiative, playing an important role in leading regional cooperation and economic integration. Of particular interest is Gwadar Port, a leading project, which has become a shining pearl of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor thanks to the joint efforts of Chinese and Pakistani builders.

Gwadar Port is located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan's Baluchistan province, about 460 kilometers from Karachi in the east, 120 kilometers from the Pakistan-Iran border in the west, and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean in the south. It is located near the throat of the Persian Gulf with important strategic significance, and choke from Africa, Europe through the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf to East Asia, the Pacific region several important maritime routes of the throat.

"The Pakistani government and people are willing to continue to join hands with China to promote the future development of Gwadar Port," said Rizwan, a professor at the National University of Modern Languages of Pakistan. As the CPEC is a bilateral economic project that will benefit the future, the construction of Gua Port also needs more detailed planning and scientific implementation when it enters the medium and long term development stage, "he said. The construction of Gwadar Port currently includes nine early harvest projects, including the construction of a highway connecting the east of Gwadar Port and the coastline, the construction of the Gwadar Port breakwater, dredging of the anchorage, the construction of the free Trade zone infrastructure, and the new Gwadar International Airport.

In accordance with the consensus of the leaders of the two countries on accelerating cooperation in agriculture, mining, information technology, social and people's livelihood and other areas of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the two sides agreed to further build the healthy corridor, industrial corridor, digital corridor and green corridor and carry out relevant cooperation. China appreciates the efforts of the Pakistani government in developing renewable energy projects, including photovoltaic, which are in line with the direction of green, low-carbon and environment-friendly energy development. China encourages Chinese-funded enterprises to participate in the project construction. Editor/He Yuting