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Clear priorities of CPEC cooperation
As the CPEC construction is advancing, Pakistan’s energy problem has been lessened significantly, and the improvement in transportation infrastructure has laid a foundation for the industrial upgrading of Pakistan. Industrial cooperation will be the focus of the CPEC construction and development in the next stage, which will inject new impetus into the sustainable development of CPEC.
Imran Khan noted that CPEC offers a “golden opportunity” for Pakistan to revitalize its economy and achieve development. The fundamental reason is that CPEC can significantly enhance the overall competitiveness of Pakistan.
In terms of China–Pakistan industrial cooperation, China should, on the one hand, focus on China–Pakistan industrial parks to enhance their industrial capacity and economic strength. On the other hand, China should encourage Chinese enterprises to take an active part in Pakistan’s existing and mature industrial parks and mobilize Pakistan’s national capital.
With “Made in Pakistan” as a breakthrough point, China will help accelerate the development of Pakistan’s local industries, and promote the export and import substitution of high value-added products, so as to make Pakistan’s existing parks to grow stronger.
Cooperation in agriculture will be deepened. Seventy percent of Pakistan’s population lives in rural areas, dependent on land. China’s advanced agricultural technology and farming equipment will improve the agricultural production efficiency of Pakistan and increase the added value of agricultural products, so as to lift the farmers out of poverty.
Given the dilemma of high inflation, currency devaluation and insufficient foreign exchange reserves in Pakistan in recent years, the development of agriculture will also help Pakistan to increase foreign exchange income and realize international balance of payment.
The second Textile Expo was held in Lahore, Pakistan from April 11 to 14, 2019. Pakistan’s textile industry accounts for 60% of the country’s total exports, and Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world with a complete textile industry chain. The expo means a good opportunity for the development of Pakistani textile enterprises.
Additionally, the second Gwadar Expo was successfully held on March 28 and 29, 2019. It attracted more than 200 exhibitors from China and Pakistan, and cooperation agreements were signed in shipping logistics, agriculture, animal husbandry, Muslim food processing and so on.
The new Pakistani government attaches great importance to the development of people’s livelihood and aims to shape Pakistan into a welfare state. CPEC, consistent with the local situation, has particularly given priority to benefiting the people.
Energy projects have been completed to meet the needs of approximately 8.6 million households.
The primary schools and China–Pakistan medical centers near Gwadar have improved the education and medical conditions of the local people.
In the future, the two countries are expected to sign a series of agreements covering areas related to people’s living standards, including education, health, agriculture, water for irrigation, poverty alleviation and human resources development. Hospitals have been set up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and vocational and technical training colleges have been established throughout Pakistan.
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