It’s Like Visiting the Home of a Brother: Chinese President Xi Jinping Ahead of Pakistan Trip
File Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Beijing: President Xi Jinping today said his first trip to Pakistan is like visiting the home of his “own brother” as he vowed to firm up China’s strategic ties with its all-weather friend by making progress on various fronts, including the $46 billion bilateral economic corridor.
“This will be my first trip to Pakistan, but I feel as if I am going to visit the home of my own brother,” Xi said in an article for the Pakistani media ahead of his visit.
“I look forward to working with Pakistani leaders during the visit to explore the general framework for bilateral cooperation, make substantial progress in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and practical cooperation in other fields and push for the furtherance of bilateral ties at a higher level,” he said in the signed article.
Pakistan is the first stop of President Xi’s first overseas trip this year.
The Chinese President is to visit the country tomorrow and Tuesday before attending the Bandung Conference in Indonesia.
During his visit, Xi will meet with his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other Pakistani leaders for in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and discuss issues of common interest.
He is expected to unveil a host of projects under the corridor linking China’s Xinjiang province with Gwadar port through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
China and Pakistan need to align development strategies more closely to realise the dreams of the two peoples, he said.
“We need to enhance strategic coordination, deepen practical cooperation and work together for common development. We will build the China-Pakistan community of common destiny and set a fine example for such efforts by China and its neighbouring countries,” Xi said.
The two countries need to align economic and trade strategies more closely to deepen economic integration, said the ruling Communist Party General Secretary.
He gave particular importance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is located where the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road meet.
“We need to form a ‘1+4’ cooperation structure with the Economic Corridor at the center and the Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure and industrial cooperation being the four key areas to drive development across Pakistan and deliver tangible benefits to its people,” he said.
In the article, he also highlighted the need to boost security cooperation, intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges and coordinate diplomatic strategies between the two countries.
Pakistan
Pakistan is a South Asian country with a rich history, having been part of ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley and later a key region in the Mughal Empire. It gained independence from British rule in 1947 as a homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent. Today, Pakistan is known for its diverse cultures, historic sites like Mohenjo-Daro, and natural beauty ranging from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major infrastructure and economic development project that connects Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region via roads, railways, and pipelines. Launched in 2013 as a flagship initiative of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC aims to enhance regional connectivity and trade while addressing Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure deficits. Its construction has significantly boosted bilateral cooperation, though it has also faced challenges related to security, debt concerns, and local opposition.
Bandung Conference
The Bandung Conference, officially the Asian-African Conference, was a historic meeting held in Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1955. It brought together leaders from 29 newly independent Asian and African nations to promote economic and cultural cooperation and to oppose colonialism and neocolonialism. This landmark event is widely regarded as a foundational moment for the Non-Aligned Movement and a symbol of solidarity among developing countries during the Cold War.
Indonesia
Indonesia is a Southeast Asian archipelago nation with over 17,000 islands, known for its vast cultural and ethnic diversity. Its history includes powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms like Srivijaya and Majapahit, followed by centuries of Dutch colonial rule, which ended after World War II. Today, it is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, with a rich heritage of traditions, languages, and sites like Borobudur and Bali.
Xinjiang province
Xinjiang, an autonomous region in northwest China, is historically significant as a central hub on the ancient Silk Road, facilitating trade and cultural exchange between East and West for centuries. Its diverse ethnic composition, including Uyghur, Han, and Kazakh communities, has shaped a rich cultural heritage reflected in its music, cuisine, and Islamic architecture. Today, Xinjiang is known for its vast deserts, fertile oases, and rapid economic development, alongside ongoing international debate over its human rights policies.
Gwadar port
Gwadar Port is a strategic deep-sea port located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan in Balochistan, near the Strait of Hormuz. Its development began in the early 2000s with Chinese investment, and it became fully operational in 2007, serving as a key node in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Historically, the area was a small fishing village before being purchased by Pakistan from Oman in 1958, and the port now plays a vital role in regional trade and geopolitics.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) refers to the portion of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir that has been under Pakistani control since the first Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-48. It is a disputed territory, with India claiming it as part of its union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan administers it as the autonomous region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The region has a complex history marked by conflict, resulting in a divided territory with distinct political and administrative structures.
Silk Road Economic Belt
The Silk Road Economic Belt is a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, proposed in 2013 to revive and modernize the ancient Silk Road trade routes that connected China with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. It focuses on enhancing infrastructure, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange across these regions through projects like railways, pipelines, and ports. Historically, the original Silk Road facilitated commerce and cultural diffusion for over 1,500 years, and this modern initiative aims to foster similar connectivity and mutual development in the 21st century.
