BEIJING: Chinese officials have long stated that constructive criticism isalways welcome, but there has got to be a bottom line: China should not letthe noise get in the way of doing the right thing for itself and othercountries.
One such thing is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Despitetangible benefits CPEC projects have brought to Pakistan, there has been noshortage of noise about the $60 billion programme between China andPakistan, according to an article published in Global Times on Monday.
As infrastructure and energy projects under CPEC reach their milestone,some foreign officials, experts and journalists have constantly linkedPakistan’s domestic economic woes, such as a foreign exchange reservecrunch, to the projects; some even went too far suggesting that China,through the billions of investments in Pakistan, have controlled thecountry.
No one with full knowledge of the project and its financial structurebelieves that. But the truth, according to some officials, top experts andbusiness leaders in Pakistan, is that this noise does have an implicationif left unchallenged. Coupled with other false information regardingPakistan’s security situation and tense domestic political competition,they say this noise could discourage more Chinese companies andorganizations from further engaging in Pakistan and slow the progress ofthe CPEC.
During a recent trip to Islamabad and Karachi, top officials, experts,business leaders and ordinary Pakistanis frequently point out that despitetangible benefits from CPEC and the broader China-Pakistan cooperation,China has rarely taken the initiative to speak out about these results andcounter the negative global narrative, and more Chinese businesses arereluctant to come to Pakistan.
“Maybe they are shy?” one business leader in Karachi asked.
They also pointed out a key theme with regard to CPEC and the broaderChina-Pakistan ties, which is that China’s investment in infrastructure andenergy projects is not enough and that China should get more deeplyinvolved in all aspects of Pakistan—from industrial to social development.
In Islamabad, officials say they want to learn more from China’s experiencein economic development and need China’s help in shoring up Pakistan’sindustrial sector; in Karachi, academics say they want to cooperate withChinese universities in both science and technology research; businessmensay they want to work with private Chinese companies.
To put it simply: as others who have nothing to do with China-Pakistanirelations paint a picture of China exerting influence in Pakistan and othercountries through economic activities, Pakistan wants more reassurance thatits economy is not on the verge of going bankrupt as portrayed by some, andwill be able to meet its financial obligations once economic activitiespick up with the implementation of CPEC.
Pakistan does need China’s help, as it faces a slew of economic challenges,including a backward industrial supply chain, weak foreign trade and a hugeportion of its population still living in poverty and without propereducation.
A friend in need is a friend indeed. China should ignore the noise and stepup its investment in Pakistan. – APP