BEIJING: Experts believe that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will foster joint development and prosperity between China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Pakistan, aligning with the vision of building a shared future for mankind.
During an event titled “Dynamics of Xinjiang in Pakistani Perspective,” Shi Yuanqiang, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, emphasized Xinjiang’s crucial role in advancing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and promoting people-to-people exchanges.
Xinjiang, as a key hub of Belt and Road cooperation, borders Pakistan and holds strategic significance in the development of the region.
Launched in 2013, the CPEC, a flagship project of the BRI, connects Pakistan’s Gwadar port with Xinjiang’s city of Kashgar, focusing on energy, transportation, and industrial collaboration.
Shi highlighted Xinjiang’s remarkable transformation from a region once plagued by extremism, terrorism, and ethnic separatism to one experiencing multifaceted development, including advancements in agriculture and tourism.
He noted that Xinjiang has become a year-round tourist destination, welcoming over 265 million visitors in 2023, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, Xinjiang’s annual cotton production surpasses 5 million tons, representing 91 percent of China’s total.
Senior analyst Sultan Mehmood Hali emphasized the deep-rooted relationship between China and Pakistan, which has contributed to regional and global peace and stability. He underscored Xinjiang’s significance as a gateway for the two countries, with shared historical and cultural ties, suggesting potential cooperation in agriculture, trade, connectivity, and culture.
Waseem Ishaque, Director of Area Study China at Pakistan’s National University of Modern Languages, highlighted the new opportunities Xinjiang presents for Pakistan and China.
He emphasized potential collaboration in trade, industry, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, ultimately leading to mutual prosperity.
