Paradigm of bilateral cooperation

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will expand the depth and breadth of their bilateral strategic relations

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain began a four-day state visit to China on Tuesday.

During his visit, in-depth discussions will be conducted on developing the relations between the two countries and views and opinions exchanged on regional issues and the international situation to strengthen communication, coordinate mutual stances and consolidate cooperation. A joint statement is also expected to be issued demonstrating both countries' willingness and determination to consolidate the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, advance their time-honored all-weather friendship and deepen all-round cooperation.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, relations between China and Pakistan have stood the test of time and the changes in the international situation; they have become all-weather strategic and cooperative partners. Their relations have also become a paradigm for good-neighborliness and friendliness, characterized by mutual support and cooperation for win-win results.

During his visit to Pakistan in May, Premier Li Keqiang proposed the establishment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which received a positive response from his hosts. A memorandum of understanding on the project's long-term plan and cooperation was soon signed.

So far a joint committee organized by China's National Development and Reform Commission and Pakistan's Planning and Development Department and related working groups has been established and positive planning and coordination are being conducted to steadily push for the construction of the corridor.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be of important economic, diplomatic, security and strategic significance. It will open new areas for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and offer a new force for their economic integration. It will also further expand the depth and breadth of bilateral strategic cooperation and push their strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.

To accelerate the project's construction, China and Pakistan will have to forge a traffic and transportation corridor between their adjacent cities, towns and ports, to facilitate and expedite the flow of personnel and goods. By taking advantage of their free trade agreement and their trade processing areas and border trade areas, the two countries can also push for the construction of a commercial trade corridor to promote the faster development of investment as well as the bilateral trade in goods and services.