March 07, 2019
In a meeting with the President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Almas Hyder, the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan, Erik Beishembiev, said that that in order to improve two-way trade volume between the two countries, there should be a direct aerial link. A business delegation from Singapore, headed by Singapore’s Ambassador to Jordan, Shamser Zaman, also held business meetings with LCCI where they expressed interest in establishing industrial parks under CPEC. In light of the rising tensions between Pakistan and India, Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor, Wang Yi, has urged the two countries to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other. The Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed held a meeting with the Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Yao Jing, and said that the 1800-km-long railway track project, ML-1, which would be completed in five years with the cost of $8 billion, possessed eminent importance for Pakistan Railways and national economy. As part of the consensus reached between the Ambassador Yao Jing and the Government of Balochistan, China has provided medical equipment to a hospital in Quetta worth PKR 6 million.
Please read below for additional details in this edition of China Watch [February 25 – March 03] by CRSS.
Kyrgyzstan plans direct flights to Pakistan:
The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan, Erik Beishembiev, held a meeting with the President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Almas Hyder, where he said that that in order to improve two-way trade volume, which was very low at present, between the two countries, there should be a direct aerial link. He said that his country was eager in exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan, especially in Gwadar and other areas of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The ambassador said Kyrgyzstan was interested in the development of shortest and cheapest transportation links through its territory between Central Asia, China and Pakistan.[i]
Singapore business delegation in Lahore, keen to invest in Pakistan:
As part of the rising foreign investments in Pakistan thanks to CPEC, Singapore is the latest stakeholder looking to invest in various sectors under CPEC. A business delegation from Singapore, headed by Singapore’s Ambassador to Jordan, Shamser Zaman, held business meetings with LCCI and its President, Almas Hyder, where they expressed interest in establishing industrial parks under CPEC.
Head of the delegation said that small and medium enterprises were an important part of Singapore’s economy and the same situation prevails in Pakistan. He said Pakistani businessmen should have sustainable liaison with the businessmen in Singapore as they are not much aware of the trade and investment opportunities in Pakistan.[ii]
China urges Pakistan and India for dialogue:
In light of the rising tensions between Pakistan and India, China has urged the two countries to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other. These remarks were made by Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi, in a phone call to the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. He expressed China’s concern about the rising tensions between the two countries, and said that China will play a constructive role to bring peace between the two.[iii]
Rasheed-Jing meeting: Beijing partnership to be given preference in new rail projects:
The Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed held a meeting with the Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Yao Jing, where both personalities discussed the modalities of the projects underway between Pakistan and China, under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Minister said that the 1800-km ML-1 railway project will be completed in 5 years, at a cost of $8 billion, for which he hoped for a finalization agreement after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China in April. The Ambassador expressed full Chinese support in the ongoing projects underway in Pakistan.[iv]
Chinese embassy donates medical equipment to Quetta hospital:
As part of the consensus reached between the Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Yao Jing and the Government of Balochistan, China has provided medical equipment to a hospital in Quetta worth PKR 6 million, which includes an ICU ventilator, auto-clave, dialysis machines etc. The Health Minister of Balochistan, Rahmat Saleh Baloch visited the hospital and inspected the medical equipment. During Ambassador Yao Jing’s visit to Balochistan, he reiterated the importance of Balochistan in the connectivity of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).[v]
This report is compiled and written by Syeda Uruba Nisar, Social Media Associate at the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad.
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[i] Kyrgyzstan plans direct flights to Pakistan. (2019, March 3). The Express Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://tribune.com.pk/story/1921864/2-kyrgyzstan-plans-direct-flights-pakistan/
[ii] Jabri, P. (2019, March 1). Singapore business delegation in Lahore, keen to invest in Pakistan. Business Recorder. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.brecorder.com/2019/03/01/478202/singapore-business-delegation-in-lahore-keen-to-invest-in-pakistan/
[iii] China urges Pakistan and India for dialogue. (2019, February 28). The News. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/438084-china-urges-pakistan-and-india-for-dialogue
[iv] Rasheed-Jing meeting: Beijing partnership to be given preference in new rail projects. (2019, March 1). ARY News. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://arynews.tv/en/rasheed-yao-jing-cpec-ml1/
[v] Chinese embassy donates medical equipment to Quetta hospital. (2019, March 1). Daily Times. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://dailytimes.com.pk/360032/chinese-embassy-donates-medical-equipment-to-quetta-hospital/
