What is the role of china in regional connectivity in South Asia
Introduction
Before the 21st, china adopted a signal pillar diplomatic strategy. China's priority concern with South Asia policy. China established closed relations with South Asia countries but not all of them. Pakistan and China have been enjoying a friendly relationship since 1950. Pakistan firstly accepted china during the differences of communist and capitalist block. The relationship was enhanced between the two countries after signing the trade agreement in 1953. China not only ties itself with South Asia but also in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa. The entry of China into the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation as an observer stimulate the forum and enhanced the concept of regionalism in South Asia. China promotes mutual and good neighborly relations with regional states.
China's efforts to expand the regional connectivity through one belt one road and china Pakistan economic corridor. China Pakistan economic corridor is important about strategy and economically for China and Pakistan. It makes a suitable way for china to connect the Middle East and Africa from Gawadar port. The china Pakistan economic corridor can do assist with trade and economic allied groups between China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Afghanistan, and Central Asian states. China Pakistan economic corridor is an important ingredient of china's “one belt, one road (OB OR)” initiative. At present date china's Pakistan economic corridor is seeing bilateral projects between China and Pakistan, by contrast on the other hand in the long run-in future it will prove a multilateral project.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor,
China Pakistan is a project on which the eyes of the whole world are focused. On 15 April 2015, the heads of state signed the agreement, and it is a long project that will have completed in 2030. This is a 46-billion-dollar investment that has the potential to grow, and the cost is estimated at 60 billion. All investment is made by china and 35 billion dollars will be spent to reduce the energy crisis,11billon, dollars have been allocated for transportation. It connects the Xinjiang, Western province of china to the South of Pakistan. It is a part of china's plan 21st-century BRI, and it's not a just road for Pakistan, and china, but it makes Pakistan economically strong and prospers. It is considered a game-changer for the economy of Pakistan, and it is seen coming to speed up Pakistani economic growth at 7.5percent from 2015 to 2030.
In terms of roads, it has two routes in Pakistan, one east and second west. The eastern route consists of Lahore, Samundri, Abdul Hakeem, Multan, Shikhar, Hider bad, and Karachi. While, the western route consists of Islamabad, to Peshawar motorway Burman interchange to Mianwali, Lorelei. Dare Ismael’s khan, Quetta, Khuzdar, and Gwadar. In addition, several bypasses will connect other areas with major highways (A lam, Nov 28, 2016). It is beneficial not for one part of Pakistan but also for all parts of Pakistan including. Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab Sindh Gil git provinces. It will become the reason to reduce poverty by bringing peace and prosperity in backward areas of Pakistan and will increase economic growth. All areas of Pakistan transform into regional core and center for commerce and investment. It is beneficial for china because it creates china a cheaper and short route for trade and investment in South Asia, West Asia, and Central Asia. The Middle East and Africa. That is why this corridor will become the symbol of peace and prosperity.
China president further highlighted the importance of China Pakistan economic corridor. This project measure beyond the province and two sides made it clear that they will add central and western lines of the corridor in the long and midterm plans and this will help in the corridor building with balance and constant growth if two sides enhance communication system that will pave the way toward Afghanistan reconciliation process and can play a vital role in the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
China Pakistan economic corridor is reducing thousands of kilometers distance for china. China is an importer of oil from Middle East countries instead of the eastern long route bypassing the Strait of Malacca for oil imports, china easily connects the western part of Xinjiang province. Xinjiang connects through Gwadar port to the Middle East and Africa. It will ensure peace and stability through economic development in Xinjiang it will use energy transactions from Central Asia which are rich in energy resources and to fulfill the energy needs of china because china is a big energy consumer country. China has an in-built oil refinery at Gwadar Port, it is beneficial for china to oil transport from the Persian Gulf and Africa to reduce two thousand five hundred miles. China Pakistan Economic Corridor strengthens the china trade, expands the economic connectivity with the countries in the region, fulfills its energy demand, and enhances its exports all the region.
The Ambassador of China in Pakistan said that china's Pakistan economic corridor would be beneficial for all the provinces of Pakistan in the context of energy, infrastructure, transportation, and industrial projects. He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is not a just road, but it will connect the whole country with motorways and infrastructure projects. First, Foremost infrastructure includes Gwadar port and secondly upgrade project of Karakorum highway, motorway project Karachi and Lahore, Karachi Shikhar motorway, Gwadar port expressway, Toke- Hevellian motorway, Gwadar international air pot and this project increase act of working jointly in the zone of energy, finance, commerce, banking, education, and industry. China Pakistan's economic corridor will help a prospering and steady economy in Pakistan and will provide an opportunity for Pakistan to enhance its economic development and to bring its industries in good condition.it will help in defeated of the barrier of foreign direct investment(FDI). China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a game-changer project despite its ca balling economic regime, it lifted the millions of people who are living in poverty and miserable condition in Pakistan.it covers the construction of textile, construction of dam, installation of nuclear reactor and makes the road, a railway line which will create an opportunity of employment. The hospital technical and vocational training institutions, water supply, and its distribution undeveloped zones will improve the stander of life of people.
In a bilateral meeting Mr. Ha mad Ajar federal minister for finance and revenue, industries, and production, presided over a meeting on industry economic cooperation under China Pakistan Economic Corridor that the project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor important for Pakistan because it would upgrade energy, communication infrastructure and enhance industrial production and expand connectivity with the region. The china ambassador said that it's very important for china companies because it strengthens and enhances economic cooperation for achieving further objectives and guarantees a well future for both nations.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor: Opportunities for Asian landlocked countries of Asia
China Pakistan economic corridor is also provided opportunities for land-locked countries of Asia. China to enhance their trading relationship with the world. There have 12 land-locked countries in the continent of Asia; Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Of them, five states, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan emerged on the world map at the time of Soviet Union erosion in 1991. Now that state is known as a Central Asian state. These states are significant because rich in natural resources like coal, iron, natural gas, and petroleum and share border with both countries China and Russia. China enhances its relations with these countries to gain access to the rich energy resources, and Russia is trying for heavy influence over the gas pipeline and oil in these countries. China continually enhances its investment in these regions. The energy demands of china are growing day by day, which is why stable sources of energy are necessary for china in Central Asia. The china-Kazakhstan oil pipeline transfers 11 million tons of oil daily. China Pakistan economic corridor is a key to connecting china, Pakistan, and Central Asia. China reduces the activities of radical extremist groups by developing the economic market and providing jobs opportunities in the region, that is why Central Asian countries welcomed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project and have willing to it fulfill. These countries considered that this project ensures potential progress of resources in the region (in March 2016 the president of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted the China Pakistan Economic Corridor importance by meeting the prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz shareef).
Peace is important in Afghanistan, it is located in the west of Pakistan which share their border with three central Asian states Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. It is also rich with natural resources copper, iron silver, marble, gold, etc. China Pakistan Economic Corridor provides a gateway to Gwadar port for Afghanistan. This opportunity to stabilize their economy through China Pakistan Economic Corridor because china's Pakistan economic corridor is bringing investment in Pakistan which affects over neighbored countries. Pakistan has built roads with Afghanistan to improve regional connectivity between both nations. For instance, Torkham Jalalabad and Torkham Peshawar roads. These two roads developed afghan business access to South Asia it is good to step toward the development of Afghanistan because of the 75 percent of Afghan exports to Pakistan and India to Iran, carpet, dried fruit, etc. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor project opportunities for Afghanistan to enhance their export and improve their economy. The afghan region is beneficial for Central Asian countries because it provides a shortcut route for Central Asia toward Gwadar port.
One Belt One Road (OB OR)
One belt one road is a strategy of china to connect itself with Europe, Asia, and Africa.it is not beneficial for china but all countries through which it passes. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) is also a part of one belt one road (OB OR). The one belt one road provides short routes for china, South Asian countries, and central Asian countries under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, and provides a gateway for land-locked countries of Asia, that is why many countries want its completion. The one belt and one road and china Pakistan economic corridor will ensure regional connectivity in Asia, Europe, and Africa. These projects provide an easy way for the moving of export and import system in the region. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is considered the hub of OB OR that connects the belt in Central Asia, and the Indian ocean.
Conclusion
China has enhanced economic influence and supremacy inside the world and connects the world through the concept of a string of pearls. For example, one belt one road, and a mega project china Pakistan economic corridor. China Pakistan's economic corridor is not only a game-changer but is also a lucky star for Pakistan which is the guarantee of prosperity in Pakistan.it is a brilliant chance for both nations to counter the influence of India in the region. It provides a string to connect Asia, Europe and Africa. Pakistan should develop a friendly relation with neighboring countries, it not only brings investment in Pakistan but also enhanced their value in the world. Peace is necessary for Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region, for that Afghanistan and Pakistan should lead economic cooperation and resolve issues. The USA should support China Pakistan Economic Corridor because it brings prosperity to the region and reduces terrorism and extremism. China and Pakistan should focus on the completion of the project and its evil factors.
Reference,
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Jabri, P. (2015). China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects to benefit all provinces of Pakistan. www.brecorder.com/top-news/108. Pakistan: Pakistan-top-news/240096-China Pakistan Economic Corridor-projects-to-benefit all provinces-of-Pakistan-Chinese-envoy.pdf.
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