Pakistan China friendship is higher than mountains, deeper than the oceans and sweeter than honey.

FORMER PRIMME MINISTER YOUSAF RAZA GILLANI.

Despite possessing two different social and political systems, Pakistan and China have set an
outstanding precedent of cooperation and friendship by adhering five principles of peaceful coexistence,
share weal and woe, act in a good faith, respect each other and support each other. For the last sixty
years, Pak-China affable relations have withstood international fluctuations and rooted into the hearts of
the people of both countries. In this regard, China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a milestone and
initiation of a new era of economic and strategic cooperation as well.
China wants to reestablish the
ancient trade Silk Route which had been used for trade since ages and China Pakistan Economic
Corridor is the initiation of this enormous vision. Silk route played a central role in connecting people
and regions on commercial bases. It was a fast and strong system of roads from China to Mediterranean
Sea and from Ural to Indian Ocean. This route provided a luxury to communicate different civilizations
and exposed the region in terms of distinctive cultures, ideas, knowledge, and Economic experiences.
Many states initiated the Silk Road project but Chinese program is favorable for Pakistan and an
economically strong country can take larger initiatives for the establishment of New Silk Road.

Standing at the start of twenty-first century, Pakistan and China jointly proposed to construct China-
Pakistan Economic Corridor, a part of New Silk Road Economic Belt and New Maritime Silk Road, as
a result of a visit paid by the Premier Li Keqiang to Pakistan in May 2013. CPEC is a part of One Belt One
Road vision expounded by Chinese President Xi Jinping which would connect sixty plus countries by
land and maritime links across Asia and Europe. CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects in Pakistan
which was initially valued forty six (46) billion dollars now extended till sixty two (62) billion dollars.
Geographically, Pakistan is located in strategically important place makes it a corridor between the South
East Asian countries and energy-rich Middle Eastern states. CPEC is an extra-ordinary concept based on
the existing trunk highways and railways of both countries. The corridor encourages of construction of
cross border network of highways, railways, airlines, fiber-optic cables and oil-gas pipelines on both sides
of the fences. Economic corridor is a complete package containing the connection of Karakoram highway
from Kashgar to Gawadar Port providing China a direct access to the warm waters of Arabian Sea, coal
power and hydropower projects and economic park projects for textile and home appliances and other
sectors.
Pakistan will surely get advantage from this mega project which will lead Pakistan
towards its economic stability, in improving the livelihoods of its people, by providing better living
conditions and social harmony. Chinas Muslim Province Singiang is somehow considered to be the
largest beneficiary of corridor would also promote the economic development, better living conditions
to the people of Singiang and social security as well. Many columnists and scholars of both countries
show their worry about the security of China Pakistan Economic Corridor considering the sabotage
activities of terrorists in Pakistan and constant military operations against the non-state actors instigating
anti-state agendas in Pakistan. Insecurity and risk do exist but it will hamper the construction of
economic corridor. Safety and economic development are the two complementary issues. CPEC is
undoubtedly the Game Changer for Pakistan and it would bring common prosperity to both Pakistan
and Muslim-congregated Xingiang.