Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Syed Ali Asad Gillani, stated that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) serves as an example of mutually beneficial cooperation among Global South countries. Speaking in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Gillani noted that the project is a landmark initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and represents the latest manifestation of a relationship that has grown in depth and scope over 75 years of diplomatic ties.
The ambassador described CPEC as a "huge project" that has transformed Pakistan's socioeconomic landscape. He recalled that when CPEC was launched in 2013, Pakistan was struggling with power shortages that negatively impacted exports, productive capacity, and livelihoods. Following the completion of first-phase energy and transport infrastructure projects, Gillani said Pakistan now has sufficient energy, which has created broader business opportunities and improved lives.
According to Gillani, CPEC has contributed more than 8,000 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan. He cited statistics showing that a single project alone was able to generate as many as 25,000 jobs. He further pointed to Gwadar Port as an example of this transformation, noting it was once a small village but now features an airport, a hospital, and vocational training programs that have significantly improved living standards for local residents.
China and Pakistan have agreed that the current priority is to advance the high-quality development of CPEC to forge "CPEC 2.0." Gillani stated that the goal is to build it into a corridor of growth, livelihood, innovation, green development, and openness. He stressed that CPEC 2.0 will continue to deliver tangible win-win outcomes and noted that Pakistan welcomes the growing interest from Chinese entrepreneurs exploring business opportunities in the country.
The ambassador, who took his post in Beijing one month ago, noted that Pakistan supports the four global initiatives put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his vision of a community with a shared future for humanity. Gillani argued that the Pakistan-China friendship helps maintain stability by promoting development, stating that such a model of cooperation is much needed in today’s turbulent world to achieve a prosperous world for all humanity.
