Development of western China is pursuant to China's longstanding policy, "Go West", aimed at removing developmental disparities between coastal China in the east, and the under-developed mountainous China in the west.
In its initial formulation, CPEC's declared timeline runs until 2030 with phasing of projects in short, medium and long-term, with scope for later adjustments. In the short-term (2014-2020), CPEC was aimed at resource mobilisation, removing major bottlenecks to Pakistan's economic (not identified in the MoU), social development and boosting economic growth in both countries.
In the mid-term (up to 2025), CPEC envisages completion of major construction and associated industrial systems, optimal utilisation of expected economic functions (improving peoples' livelihood along CPEC) and removing economic/developmental disparities regionally, as per Vision 2025. In the long-term (up to 2030), CPEC's goal is for South Asia growing into an international economic zone with global influence, having CPEC effectively integrated for economic growth in South/Central Asia.
Subsequent implementation and recalibration have sequenced projects into 'Early Harvest' projects (2015-2019) in the energy sector, adding up approximately 7,000 MW to the national grid by 2019, easing energy shortages and load shedding. By 2022, energy projects would add another 13,180 MW, lifting production and exports.
Similarly, short-term (up to 2022) projects include mainly infrastructure (roads), Gwadar development, fiber-optic network, hydel, coal-mining and power projects. Whereas, medium-term (up to 2025) include railways and the creation of industrial zones. The long-term projects (up to 2030) include completion of industrial zones, agriculture and tourism.
China helps Afghan peace with trilateral mechanism
Interestingly, Chinese statement to extend CPEC to Afghanistan
comes as Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the fourth
China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Dialogue via video
link on Thursday to discuss US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The three foreign ministers reached a consensus
on promoting the peace process in Afghanistan and anti-terrorism and security
cooperation, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Wang Yi said that the current international and
regional situations are undergoing complex and profound changes, and the
security and stability of Afghanistan and the region are facing new challenges,
with foreign troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan accelerated, the peace and
reconciliation process in Afghanistan impacted, and armed conflicts and
terrorist activities becoming more frequent.
Under such circumstances, it is more necessary
for the three countries to strengthen communication and cooperation to make the
situation in Afghanistan more conducive to the common interests of Afghanistan
and other countries in the region, Wang said.
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