ISLAMABAD – China has reportedly offered and desired to bring Iran into theloop of China Pakistan Economic Corridor Project.
As per the media report, Top Chinese diplomat in Pakistan has underlinedhis country’s enthusiasm to cooperate with Iran and Afghanistan within theframework of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“China is interested in the partnership of the friendly states andneighbors of Pakistan, specially Iran, in the CPEC project,” ChineseAmbassador to Islamabad Yao Jing said during a press conference inIslamabad on Monday.
Yao underscored that the project benefits not only Pakistan and China butalso all the regional states.
Last month, a Saudi team arrived in Pakistan to sign four contracts for oiland mineral sector investment and trade cooperation that “would ultimatelyextend the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from Gwadar to Africathrough Oman and Riyadh.”
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However, analysts say Pakistan’s offer to Saudi Arabia to participate inCPEC and Riyadh’s investment in western Balochistan province bordering Iranand Afghanistan, could irk Tehran.
Riyadh is Washington’s closest ally in the region, and its involvement in aChina-led economic project raises a number of questions about newgeopolitical alignments.
