The leading story of this week was the call of the China’s Vice Minister of International Department, Central Committee, Zheng Xiaosong on the Pakistani political parties to come together for the success of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC). Commander, Southern Command, Lt Gen Aamir Riaz has invited India to join CPEC. The central and provincial governments have agreed to jointly attend the upcoming meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC. Acting Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Muhammad Zhao Lijian, has rejected the anti-CPEC propaganda.

Call for Unity:

China’s Vice Minister of International Department, Central Committee, Zheng Xiaosong exhorted the Pakistani political parties to come together for the success of CPEC and attainment of the ‘shared goal of development’. He said that “[P]olitical parties in Pakistan have divergent interests. We hope that the political parties can work together to resolve their differences and make CPEC a success.”[1] He added “[W]e are ready to work with Pakistan for consensus and strive jointly for the way forward.” Though all the political groups in Pakistan have supported and welcomed the corridor, there is a palpable lack of consensus over the question of provincial shares in the projects. Even in the past China has made such pleas to Pakistan for a political unity behind CPEC. But the divisions between Pakistan’s political parties with regard to CPEC are going nowhere and that has perturbed the Chinese government.

India Invited to Join CPEC:

Commander, Southern Command, Lt Gen Aamir Riaz has invited India to shun subversive activities and join CPEC to share the fruits of future development of the project.[2] It is a remarkable development in the sense that the two neighbors have been engaged in historic rivalry. In connection with Islamabad’s invitation to New Delhi, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Hua Chunying said that China wonders “whether the Indian side takes this offer made by the Pakistani general as a goodwill gesture”.[3] She added that Beijing would discuss the possibility of introducing a third party to CPEC “on the basis of consensus with the Pakistani side through consultation.” It is worth-mentioning that China has been open to the joining of CPEC by other regional countries. But given India’s enmities with Pakistan and China, there is little hope New Delhi will give serious consideration to this offer.

Provinces to attend JCC:

The central and provincial governments have agreed to jointly attend the upcoming meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on December 29 in Beijing.[4] The parties have also decided to include two projects and two industrial parks each from all the provinces in the CEPC. The projects include Punjab Orange Line Metro Train, Sindh’s Karachi Circular Railway and two similar mass transit projects from KP and Balochistan. The estimated costs of these projects which is $8 billion, will take the cumulative worth of CPEC to $54b billion.[5] The coming together of the four provinces for such an important meeting will help develop intra-provincial consensus on the CPEC that has been missing from the beginning.

Anti-CPEC Propaganda Rejected:

Acting Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Muhammad Zhao Lijian, has empathically rejected the allegations made against CPEC. He said that “CPEC is working well. But there are some people who are maligning the project, which enjoy the support of most of the people of Pakistan”.[6] He added that calling the CPEC as ‘China-Punjab Economic Corridor’ was baseless as Balochistan had a larger share in the project. He also rejected the charges of corruption being raised regarding CPEC projects. As far the environmental concerns are concerned, he said that “[A]ll international standards are being complied.” The multi-billion dollar project has raised some serious questions in Pakistan. Transparency, intra-provincial discords and environmental issues are some of the weak points that have raised doubts in the minds of some observers.

Miscellaneous:

Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that he was giving priority to the security of Chinese workers involved in CPEC projects in Sindh.[7] Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran held a meeting with a delegation of Chinese officials and discussed the CPEC.[8]

This report is compiled and written by Abdur Rehman Shah, Research Associate at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), and edited by Zeeshan Salahuddin, Senior Research Fellow at CRSS, Islamabad.

[1] Staff Reporter. (2016, December 22). Political Parties urged to unite for success of CPEC. Retrieved on December 23, 2016, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1303620/political-parties-urged-to-unite-for-success-of-cpec

[2] Shahid, Saleem. (2016, December 22). India urged to shun subversive activities. Retrieved on December 26, 2016, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1303612/india-urged-to-shun-subversive-activities

[3] Dawn.com. (2016, December 25). China wonders if India will take up Pakistani general’s offer to join CPEC. Retrieved on December 26, 2016, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1304223/china-wonders-if-india-will-take-up-pakistani-generals-offer-to-join-cpec

[4] Kiani, Khaleeq. (2016, December 23). Provinces invited to attend CPEC meeting in Beijing net week. Retreived on December 26, 2016, from http://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=23_12_2016_010_003

[5] Rana, Shahbaz. (2016, December 23). Four new schemes to be part of CPEC. Retrieved on December 26, 2016, from http://tribune.com.pk/story/1272267/four-new-schemes-part-cpec/

[6] Staff Reporter. (2016, December 20). China brushes aside anti-CPEC propaganda. Retrieved on December 26, 2016, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1303405/china-brushes-aside-anti-cpec-propaganda

[7] Web Desk. (2016, December 26). Priority given to security of Chinese working in Sindh: CM. Retrieved on December 26, 2016, from https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/173988-Priority-being-given-to-security-of-Chinese-working-in-Sindh-CM

[8] Dunya News. (2016, December 20). Imran Khan meets delegation of Chinese communist party. Retrieved on December 26, 2016, from http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/366269-Imran-Khan-meets-delegation-of-Chinese-Communist-P