Friendship, trust evident in seven decades of exchanges and cooperation between China and Pakistan

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, is a key feature of a multilateral development strategy between the two countries, and has made China the highest foreign investor in the history of Pakistan. Cooperation in energy generation projects including civil nuclear power is but one important example of the strengthened relationship between the two countries.

China has stood by its old friend Pakistan through thick and thin, providing critical financial assistance during the period of division of East and West Pakistan (1969-71). Today's generation has also been generously supported by China during difficult times – debts were converted into financial aid, which helped Pakistan to emerge successfully from crisis. This much needed aid helped Pakistan enter new era of industrial development, creating job opportunities and stoking the country's economic progress.

As a key part of the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has brought Pakistan's economic development prospects to new heights with greater potential for growth. It is hoped that CPEC will be a total game changer by 2030.

A concrete expression of China-Pakistan Friendship, the CPEC project runs from Khunjerab in the north of the country to Gwadar, Baluchistan in the south, and includes several highways, dry ports and industrial areas. The Karakoram Highway, Khuzdar-Basmia Highway and the 392 kilometer Peshawar-Karachi motorway from Multan to Sukkur are the most important thoroughfares that have been developed and expanded as part of the project. These play a key role in regional development, making high-speed transit of heavy vehicles from one part of the country to another possible.

Similarly, the movement of goods and commodities has become much faster, addressing a critical need in Pakistan. The basic concept of the CPEC project is a corridor from China to Gawadar and Karachi and back, which will take trade and commerce to the next stage and boost economic growth in the region.

While potential avenues for cooperation with China – in areas including health, education, science and technology, tourism and agriculture – are being explored, a critical factor for Pakistan's development is energy. China is well aware of Pakistan's needs and its thirst for sustainable development. Power generation projects have therefore been specially included in the CPEC. Moreover, not only is China looking to address Pakistan's energy shortage, it also wants to do so using environment-friendly and alternative energy resources.