China and Pakistan Reconfirm their Commitment to CPEC Cooperation

India opposes the CPEC because it runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and gives China access to the Arabian Sea via the Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

On Saturday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and China reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to continuing their collaboration on the multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects. This is a day after India lambasted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This occurred at the fourth round of the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue, which was co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad.

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, "Pakistan and China have reiterated their abiding commitment to the high-quality development of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project." External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier stated at a press conference following the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa: "On the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, I think it was made very clear, not once but twice in the SCO meeting, that connectivity is good for progress, but connectivity cannot violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Afterward, Mr. Bilawal and Qin spoke at a news conference together and said that this year marked the end of CPEC's ten-year run, which has accelerated socio-economic growth, created jobs, and improved people's standard of living in Pakistan.

The $60 billion CPEC Corridor is being built across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with help from China. India opposes the CPEC because it runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and gives China access to the Arabian Sea via the Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province. Mr. Bilawal reaffirmed Pakistan's "abiding commitment to its [CPEC's] high-quality development," adding that "This corridor project remains a win-win economic initiative opened to all investors around the world." He then said, "CPEC remains a shining example of the Belt and Road Cooperation, which is accelerated socio-economic development, job creation and improvement of the people's livelihoods in Pakistan."

In addition, Mr. Bilawal stated that Pakistan was extremely appreciative of China's substantial and prompt help. "We continue to grapple with the headwinds in the global economy." 

In both bilateral interactions and multilateral fora, he claimed that Pakistan and China consistently provided mutual assistance on matters about fundamental national interests. "We appreciate China's steadfast support on all our issues, including its principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute." "We deeply appreciate China's firm support for Pakistan's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national development, as well as China's principled and just stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute." In the past, India has criticized the statements made on the Kashmir problem by leaders of Pakistan and China, claiming that New Delhi rejected their unjustified references to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have consistently rejected such statements, and all parties concerned are well aware of our clear position on these matters. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh are and always will be integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has locus standi to comment on the same," a  Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson had earlier said in reaction to remarks made on the Kashmir issue by Pakistan and China.

China, according to the Chinese Foreign Minister, is prepared to collaborate with Pakistan to advance the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), speed up the construction of CPEC, deepen cooperation in areas like business, agriculture, information technology, and disaster prevention and mitigation, and assist Pakistan in reviving its economy and improving the lives of its citizens. 

Mr. Bilawal stated at the press conference that Pakistan and China have stood together for decades and will do so in the future. He declared that Pakistan would keep standing with China in all crucial matters about its interests. He reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering support for China "on all its core issues, including the One-China policy, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea."

According to Mr. Bilawal, the two nations' alliance has strengthened through time and is supported by people of all ages and political persuasions. He then said, "We had an in-depth exchange of views on the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation. We agreed to the significance of this partnership for the mutual benefit of our two nations in the face of new developments." 

According to the minister, the friendship between China and Pakistan is unbreakable, and the mutual warmth and trust between the two peoples is a beautiful example of cross-cultural collaboration. He then continued, "China can always count on Pakistan as its most reliable partner and trusted friend. Friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. The centrality and criticality of Pakistan's all-weather partnership with China cannot be overstated."

He added that Pakistan opposed bloc politics and any sort of increased power rivalry and that it looked forward to cooperating with all nations to overcome global development and connectivity concerns.