Pak-China 11th Joint Cooperation Committee: Prospects, Propositions and Proposals
Editor's Note: The author is Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, Executive Director of the Center for South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS), Islamabad, and Regional Expert on China, CPEC & BRI.
The 11th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) between Pakistan and China will be held in Beijing, during which projects under the framework of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be thoroughly discussed.
The upcoming 11th JCC of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) has great significance for both countries. Projects regarding energy, transport, information technology, socio-economic development, industrial cooperation, science and technology, transport infrastructure and international cooperation will be discussed.
Pakistan and China on Monday held a joint working group (JWG) meeting as part of preparation for the upcoming JCC meeting. The long-term plan of CPEC was reviewed by both sides. Participants of the JWG meeting were satisfied with the steady progress made on various projects and agreed to execute CPEC Phase-II in the country as soon as possible.
The timely completion of the CPEC Phase-II projects is very important for the incumbent government to revive macro-economy and massive industrialization of green transition in the country. Ministries shared their deliverable proposals of projects during the JWG.
The ministry for Planning Development and Special Initiatives forwarded numerous energy and mining projects for the upcoming JCC. Representative from Information Technology (IT) briefed the plan to set up six sub-working groups on communication technology infrastructure, application innovation, policy and regulation, HR development, cyber security and radio spectrum regulation.
Moreover, all sectors should put forces together to build new corridors, namely China-Pakistan Digital Corridor (CPDC), China-Pakistan Green Corridor (CPGC), China-Pakistan Health Corridor (CPHC), China-Pakistan Artificial Intelligence Corridor (CPAIC), China-Pakistan Agriculture Corridor (CPAC) and last but not least China-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor (CPKC).
Furthermore, transition from carbon emission peak to carbon neutrality may be geared-up with the establishment of CPGC. It will definitely promote development of green energies in the countries. China, being the champion of renewable energies (wind & solar), should cooperate with Pakistan under CPEC.
There is an urgent need to change the model of engagement, approval, execution and implementation during CPEC Phase-II. Matters of proper security of the Chinese personnel working in different projects of CPEC is an imminent task to be solved. Pending payments should also be thoroughly discussed and resolved for the easy and smooth sailing of CPEC Phase-II.
