A special conference of Asian political parties in Beijing, hosted by China earlier this month, gave further impetus to China’s push for reviving the historic old Silk Road to meet the needs of the 21st century and beyond.
The ‘One Belt, One Road’ idea backed by China’s president Xi Jinping is being watched with close interest by policy-makers across the region, including those in Pakistan.
Though the initiative seeks to build a new network of roads, maritime networks and associated infrastructure through a number of countries, Pakistan is keen for its own part of this network to complete successfully. Known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the project has been widely hailed across the country as a game changer, which will stabilise Pakistan more than ever before.
China’s friendship with Pakistan is neither new nor without substance. China has always stood by Pakistan during the latter’s hour of need, so it’s not surprising that a recent opinion poll in the south Asian country found an overwhelmingly large majority of respondents favourably disposed towards support for China. In fact, China remains the most popular and trustworthy foreign friend of Pakistan, the poll concluded.
While there are indeed differences between the two nations — such as those of language and belief systems — the warmth surrounding their relationship has adequately proven the benefits that can only result out of a strong sense of shared beliefs.
China’s capacity to back an ambitious project like ‘One Belt, One Road’ has been boosted in large part due to Beijing’s unparalleled economic success. Across the country, signs of prosperity flowing from high levels of economic growth are abundantly visible. It was, therefore, not surprising that visitors to Beijing for the Asian political parties’ conference were clearly impressed to see the emergence of a fast-growing, world-class metropolitan city. Practically no week goes by when Beijing does not witness a foreign dignitary land on its soil as the lineup grows rapidly of foreign countries seeking to establish closer ties with China. For most foreign players seeking to befriend China, the most important incentive is indeed China’s continuing economic success story.
The idea of ‘One Belt, One Road’ is indeed also driven by China’s interest in not only keeping its own engine of growth go from strength to strength. More importantly, that success story may well translate into a growth momentum for countries that become partners of China in this unprecedented journey.
This generosity has become all too visible recently when China promised to invest up to $46 billion (Dh169.18 billion) in the CPEC at a time when Pakistan is practically not receiving fresh foreign investments in real terms from any other foreign source. China has set the pace for what could be characterised as a new era for Pakistan, signifying higher levels of economic growth driven by new infrastructure projects supported by China. An important element of this journey will in fact be the unprecedented step for the new route to pass through Pakistan’s south-western Balochistan province, once at the centre of a separatist insurgency. In recent months, a new push led by the Pakistan army has helped to allow some of the insurgents to step back from violence in favour, laying down their arms and joining the mainstream.
Yet, this recently restored calm in Balochistan itself will not help to consolidate long-term prospects for peace unless backed by the creation of robust economic activity to bring about a meaningful change. The arrival of new projects such as the construction of new road and rail networks, along with a new pipeline to carry oil and gas plus new energy projects, all have one important common feature: They will provide employment to individuals in places like Balochistan for years to come. And as these projects progress and consolidate, there will be the assurance of new investments in industry, business and modern-day agriculture coming in to remote locations to provide longer term employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, China’s recent establishment of The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as an alternative to existing global multilateral funding institutions, provides an alternative source of lending to members of the developing world. The AIIB is intended to provide finances for new projects to lift prospects for the banks’ member countries.
In this background, China watchers are left with a pertinent question: Whether China should be seen as an economic powerhouse of the future or indeed a rapidly emerging military power too. For many, China’s military rise raises the question of its political and military ambitions. And yet, first-time travellers to China are often struck by Beijing’s well-considered policy of allowing the growth of trade and travel with Taiwan — China’s former province known as Formosa, on which Beijing continues to lay a claim. If indeed China’s military rise is reason enough to impress long-time China watchers, that must be seen within the context of China’s yearning for recognition as an important player in global affairs. In the meantime, a return to China’s economic rise must be seen within the context of China’s long and rich history.
Though present-day China made a transition from imperial rule to Communism and increasingly towards liberal economic mechanisms, China bears the hallmark of a rich civilisation. That is precisely where China continues to muster a rich vision for the future as it builds up its economy and works to seek partners beyond its borders.
For Pakistan, the reality of the CPEC has become visible just recently. Yet, this is an outcome of a long-term relationship that began in the 1960s and has been of continued benefit to supporting Islamabad. Perhaps the most visible outcome of this relationship is evident nowhere more than one the streets of Pakistan, where a popular chorus remains: ‘China and Pakistan are not just friends, they remain brothers’.
Farhan Bokhari is a Pakistan-based commentator who writes on political and economic matters.
