It is not a new thing that the nations that emerge as powers in the world want their relations with other nations to be established on a strong basis. In the past, powerful nations were interested in subjugating the weaker nations of the world and even today this desire exists in one form or another. Strength used to be measured by a military force, but in modern times, other factors are also influenced by the definition of a powerful country or nation.
It is also seen what kind of economic development it is. What kind of nation, is it culturally? At what position are the people of this country in terms of education and health, the graph of knowledge and research is also discussed, but the most important thing will be that the country which is recognizing itself as a powerful country. What is its attitude towards developing nations?
In this regard, I would like to give the example of the People’s Republic of China, a neighboring country of Pakistan’s northern border, where I have traveled many times and studied its policies very deeply. I believe that the way the People’s Republic of China has begun to share its progress with other developing countries is unprecedented in centuries.
In this era of globalization, China has held the hand of developing countries and started providing them opportunities to develop in every sector. The general perception is that economic cooperation is possible only if two nations start a series of strategic cooperation with each other. But the People’s Republic of China has surprised the world by presenting the BRT project. In which 75 countries of the world will be connected.
Although the strategic cooperation between Pakistan and China has been going on for decades, the relations between the two countries started only after the Chinese revolution. Pakistan recognized China and after some time diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. Pakistan Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Sehrawardy visited China and a new era of relations between the two nations began.
The border dispute between Pakistan and China was settled. In 1962, the two countries became very close to each other. In the Sino-Indian War, Pakistan sided with China. In 1965, China continued to cooperate with Pakistan during the Indo-Pak war. In this way, the relations between the two nations became stronger.
Pakistan’s role in introducing China to international nations and especially in the beginning of US-China relations was very important, which the people of the People’s Republic of China could not forget till today. Until 1980, Pakistan’s per capita income was higher than that of China, but after that, new economic policies were introduced in China. China also opened its doors to other countries of the world. Thus a new journey of development began. Soon, China started to be recognized in the world as a global economic power. China’s rapid growth has overtaken many European nations.
China’s current leadership was given a new vision by President Xi Jinping, under which China announced that it would share its economic growth with developing countries.
China’s blueprint for future economic development, the Belt and Road Initiative, is an example for the world. Under this, Pakistan and China planned the Economic Corridor which is a game changer for Pakistan. CPEC, apparently, is not a highway but a road map for economic development.
China’s vision of globalization is the most modern vision of the 21st century, where the concepts of the past have been buried. And an economic power is envisioning a developing country to share in its development instead of undermining it. Developing countries want to invest in their infrastructure because it is a difficult task that requires access to capital and technology in which developing countries lag behind.
CPEC will connect the city of China Kashgar with the coastal city of Gawadar in Balochistan province. Apart from this, many other projects will also be completed under it.
Balochistan province of Pakistan has many characteristics. Apart from being large in terms of area, it is rich in natural resources. Mineral reserves are present throughout the province which will benefit future generations. Along with Gwadar port, it will open new avenues for growth in the industry there. To speed up the means of communication, China has constructed an international airport in Gawadar which will further improve connectivity. A college and a hospital have been established for social development.
The fruits of real development in Balochistan will be visible when positive changes begin to take place in the lives of the youth and women there. As they hold the future of the country and it’s prosperity.
China has brought the fruits of its development to Pakistan’s doorstep. Now it is our responsibility to convey its effects to the common people of Pakistan. Common people should get benefits on merit from the institutions that are being established.
In the chart of future development that we see in front of us, overcoming the problems by utilizing our resources is the first priority. National security is related to this, a country is called developed only when the lives of its people change and people benefit from its fruits.