Security a must to tap full CPEC potential

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari visited China from Feb 4 to 8 especially to strengthen the China-Pakistan strategic partnership. Apart from meeting with President Xi Jinping, with whom he exchanged views on the future of bilateral relations amid rising regional challenges, Zardari also held talks with Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji.

Among other things, Zardari also attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Feb 7.

During their talks the leaders of the two countries agreed to strengthen strategic ties in the face of rising global uncertainties. While China emphasized that one of its fundamental foreign policy goals is to preserve its relationship with Pakistan, for Pakistan, the China-Pakistan bond is of particular importance, especially in the domain of economic activity. No wonder the two sides vowed to deepen their economic relations and overcome security challenges.

China and Pakistan are bound by more than just diplomatic relations. For example, terrorism poses the biggest threat to the China-Pakistan economic partnership, and economic cooperation can only be strengthened if the two sides are free from security concerns. That's why the two sides have been combating terrorism, separately as well as jointly.

Besides, Pakistan benefits from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which is part of the larger Belt and Road Initiative. Belt and Road projects have helped expand China's role in the Global South, where it has been partnering with low — and lower-income countries to realize mutual development and share its development dividends.

Both China and Pakistan have reiterated their commitment to implement eight initiatives to foster collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative framework and work toward creating cooperative corridors that would help improve people's livelihoods, better protect the environment and advance technological development.

But to realize the full potential of the CPEC, Pakistan and China have to establish an efficient security apparatus and enhance intelligence mechanisms to effectively counter terrorism. Addressing security concerns in the aftermath of recent incidents is crucial for the long-term success of the CPEC.

Ultimately, Pakistan ought to integrate its long-term security policies with China's not just to counter terrorism, but rather to eradicate terrorism from its roots.

Stringent and coordinated counter-terrorism measures should be taken to accentuate economic activity and deepen greater trust between China and Pakistan, in order to better safeguard the CPEC projects.

Also, despite being a mutually beneficial economic venture, the CPEC requires more investment for the development of special economic zones, which got delayed because of political instability and bureaucratic hurdles, which in turn made it even more difficult for Pakistan to attract foreign investment.

As such, constructive policy measures, including tax reforms and beefing up of security, should be urgently taken to address the problem of political instability in Pakistan and poor governance of CPEC 2.0.

To attract optimum Chinese investment, technologies and human resources, the Pakistani authorities need to take all necessary security steps in close coordination with their Chinese counterparts to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals working on various CPEC projects in Pakistan.

The security of Chinese nationals is the topmost priority of the Chinese government, which Pakistan has to provide if it wants to see CPEC 2.0 move forward. Both China and Pakistan need to work in tandem to implement the second phase of the CPEC with special focus on industrial cooperation — through SEZs — agricultural growth, joint ventures in emerging technologies, as well as to jointly combat climate change.

In the context of bilateral ties, Zardari's visit to China was more than just a diplomatic exercise; it highlighted the promise both countries have made to consolidate the economic gains from Belt and Road projects.

If the past is any guide, the China-Pakistan relationship will not only endure despite external uncertainties, but also strengthen further given the sustained Sino-Pakistani cooperation in strategic-military fields. Of course, the problems hindering the deepening of economic cooperation under the CPEC framework need to be addressed by devising coordinated security mechanisms, so as to effectively guard Chinese nationals against terrorist attacks.

<span class="epaper-status">Ejaz Hussain, a guest researcher at Fudan Development Institute, Fudan University, is an associate professor at the Lahore School of Economics in Pakistan; and Sofia Najeeb is an undergraduate student in political science at the Lahore School of Economics.</span>

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.