Pakistan said Tuesday that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) offers a “compelling” opportunity for regional countries to achieve comprehensive economic integration.
Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the multibillion-dollar project “offers every SCO partner a compelling opportunity to participate in and accelerate our shared journey toward comprehensive economic integration.”
CPEC, which is part of China’s One Belt, One Road project, aims to connect its northwestern Xinjiang province to Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province through a 2,000-mile network of roads, railways and pipelines.
To achieve “seamless” economic integration, according to Dar, targeted investments in core sectors – most notably in energy and transport – are vital.
“Pakistan strongly advocates for expanding investments into high-potential industries, including agriculture, mining and minerals, and information technology, to build a resilient and interconnected economic future for all our nations,” he maintained.
Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation, energy cooperation and international information security should become important pillars of future cooperation within the SCO, he further said.
He reiterated the need to accelerate efforts to promote the use of national currencies for mutual settlement and to establish the SCO Development Bank, SCO Development Fund and an Investment Fund.
Sustainable economic development, Dar observed, cannot be guaranteed without durable peace and security in the region.
“Ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding the peace and stability of our region. Pakistan continues to be desirous of a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbors,” he added.
In return, Pakistan has only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban regime: that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism against Pakistan and the world, he said.
Dar met Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin on the sidelines of the meeting.
The two ministers underscored the need to expand trade and economic cooperation, enhance regional connectivity, and strengthen cooperation in energy, security and people-to-people exchanges, according to a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement.
They also discussed regional and global developments.