CPEC Phase II: Pakistan aims to boost economic cooperation with China

Pakistan has prepared a comprehensive list of over six dozen projects in various fields for Chinese cooperation under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The wish list, which will be shared with Chinese Prime Minister next month, aims to upgrade CPEC by incorporating five new corridors: growth, innovation, green, livelihood, and opening-up, as well as regional connectivity.

The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has confirmed that the CPEC has successfully completed its first phase and is now entering its second phase. The minister held a meeting with China’s Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reforms Commission, resulting in an agreement to hold a high-level workshop to align Pakistan’s 5Es framework with the proposed five corridors and President Xi’s eight points for the Belt and Road Initiative.

The list of projects included in the INFRASTRUCTURE category include study on follow-up technical support for the New Gwadar International Airport project, East Bay Expressway phase II, Karakoram Highway (Railkot-Thakot) realignment project (N35); promotion of the upgradation (ML 1) project in a ‘phrased manner and the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project.

The ENERGY AND MINERALS category includes GEIP LNG terminal project, National Refinery upgrading and expansion project, Suki Kinari Hydropower station and the Siyadik Copper Project

In the INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION category, the projects include Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, Rashakai Industrial Park Project, Omara port ship repair project, Juncao cultivation demonstration and extension project, Buffalo Breeding and Dairy Processing Project and the Pepper cultivation demonstration and extension project

In the area of SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, the focus will be on the construction of the China-Pakistan Earth Science Research Centre along with promotion of Pakistani universities in the China-Pakistan Belt and Road joint Laboratory on Intelligent Disaster Prevention.

For the SMALL YET SMART LIVLIHOOD category, the projects include launching the China-Pakistan Vocational and Technical Exchange and Training Program, establishing a China-Pakistan Joint Laboratory for Agricultural Technology, aid for flood-affected areas in Pakistan and China-Pakistan South Cooperation Material Assistance Project to address climate change.

In terms of BILATERAL TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION, the government aims to implement the second-phase protocol of the China-Pakistan FTA and exploring co-concession arrangements, strengthen industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan, accelerate constructing of ancillary facilities at Gwadar Port as well as promote long-term planning of China-Pakistan mining cooperation.

The projects for DIGITAL ECONOMY include supporting Chinese-funded enterprises in building digital infrastructure in Pakistan, encouraging enterprises to build high-quality projects in software, cloud computing big data, as well as jointly promoting technological innovation and access of standardisation institutions, promoting exchanges in radio spectrum management and strengthening exchange of network and data security organisation.