China-pakistan Relations and Regional Development in the Context of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Abstract

Pakistan and China as all weather strategic partners have a history of glorious friendly relations. Both countries always try to make strong these relations through different geo-political, strategic and economic projects/agreements. The Pak-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) is also a key to make strong economic relations of both countries. It is considered to be an extension of China’s proposed 21st century Silk Road initiative and considered a centre for their relations. It is a huge project under construction that will undertake the construction of highway and railway links running through the areas from Gwadar in Baluchistan and culminating in Kashgar in western China, while passing through the regions of Baluchistan, Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (Khunjrab Pass) and run through most vital geostrategic locations. It will connect Pakistan with China and the Central Asian countries by the highway connecting Kashgar to Khunjrab and Gwadar. The CPEC is of high significance, as it making this region more economically viable, stable and sustainable. It is also one of many mega projects planned by China in Central, South and South East Asia for expanding its political and economic influence to counter the US influence in the region. China has made an attempt to fulfill multiple interests of its own by the financial investments in region on CPEC. It shall act as a trade bridge between China, Middle East and Europe through Pakistan and proved a source of economic benefits. The paper through the empirical and inductive research approach tries to identify the China-Pakistan relations and the regional development by the construction of CPEC. In this paper makes consideration of the main traits of the CPEC on both regions. It also emphasizes on the impacts on the economic situation of Pakistan at regional and global levels as well.