Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar recently wrapped up his significant visit to China, where he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the timely completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, a flagship initiative of the Belt and Road framework. He also emphasized the importance of collective efforts for regional connectivity and shared prosperity.
The prime minister visited Beijing to attend and speak at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, hosted by President Xi Jinping and attended by around 140 nations. Other prominent attendees included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
During his address at the high-level BRF on the theme of ‘Connectivity in an Open Global Economy,’ Prime Minister Kakar praised President Xi’s vision for creating a global community with a shared future and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), emphasizing their significance for global connectivity, common development, and shared prosperity.
This visit coincided with the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the caretaker prime minister highlighted the critical role of CPEC in generating new economic opportunities in Pakistan. He endorsed the Chinese proposal to develop CPEC as a corridor of growth, innovation, livelihood, green economy, openness, and inclusiveness. He also stressed the need for a united global response to address transnational challenges and invest in transportation, energy, and the digital economy to bridge infrastructure gaps in the developing world.
On the sidelines of the forum, Prime Minister Kakar held meetings with leaders from various countries, including Russia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. He also had discussions with Chinese President Xi and Premier Li Qiang, where they reaffirmed their strong friendship, strategic cooperation, economic ties, and the importance of CPEC in their relations.
Additionally, the caretaker prime minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, and energy. He also held meetings with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.
During an interaction with Chinese think tanks and scholars, Prime Minister Kakar described CPEC as a catalyst for growth, poverty alleviation, and job creation, emphasizing its strategic importance.
Moreover, he met with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum to discuss the situation in Gaza.
Prime Minister Kakar also engaged with leading Chinese companies, encouraging their executives to explore Pakistan’s vast investment potential.
