Senator Mushahid Hussain praises impact of BRI in enhancing regional connectivity and economic growth.
Mushahid Hussain Syed, former chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Defense Committee and chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, recently emphasized the significant impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on economic growth and bilateral relations between China and Pakistan. Reflecting on his 13 years of interactions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Syed praised these initiatives as fundamental to regional development and cooperation.
Syed recalled his first meeting with President Xi Jinping in 2011, noting Xi’s confidence and deep understanding of issues. He remembered Xi’s vision to eradicate extreme poverty in China by 2021, which was timely realized, and Xi’s plans for China’s development up to 2049.
During Xi’s state visit to Pakistan in April 2015, Syed was honored with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award, recognizing his efforts in promoting China-Pakistan relations.
Syed recalled President Xi’s speech in Pakistan’s Parliament, which emphasized the historical and cultural connections between the two countries, referencing the Silk Road and Pakistani poet Muhammad Iqbal’s vision.
Syed hailed the BRI as a pivotal diplomatic and developmental initiative of the 21st century, alongside other initiatives like the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI).
Highlighting the achievements of CPEC, Syed noted that China has invested nearly $26 billion in CPEC projects in Pakistan, leading to significant developments, including electricity generation, infrastructure, and job creation.
He also mentioned the transformative impact on regions like Thar, where local women now participate in coal transportation, contributing to the national grid and earning incomes.
In October 2023, Syed attended the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, where President Xi highlighted people-to-people connectivity as a key element of the BRI, calling it a “symphony of friendship in the new era.”
Reflecting on his enduring relationship with China, Syed shared that his first visit to China as a student more than 50 years ago sparked a journey of discovery, leading to the establishment of the Pakistan-China Institute.
Related Posts:
- Working Together for a Brighter Future of China-Tajikistan Relations: Xi Jinping
- China launches new BRI action to promote international skill cooperation
- BRI agreements reinforced Pakistan-China partnership: Official
Further Information:
Pathways of progress: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
