The government in Beijing will support the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by using the Pakistani port of Gwadar, according to an official press release from Pakistan’s government.
The project’s goal is to give China greater access to the Middle East Africa and Europe through Pakistan, via three alternate motorways to Pakistan’s Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea, AAP reported.
General Fan Chanlang, Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, told Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif that he looked forward to close cooperation “to ensure proper management and security of CPEC,” according to the press release.
General Fan called Pakistan and China “best iron brothers, good friends and strategic partners”.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shared a similar sentiment, calling his country’s relationship to China a “cornerstone” of its foreign policy at a meeting on November 12.
Fan’s trip to Pakistan was the first visit by a Chinese official to that country in eleven years. This came two days after he headed a high level Chinese delegation to discuss matters of mutual interest, regional security, steps for regional stability, and bilateral defense collaboration.
Pakistan’s government has handed over 280 hectares of a 923-hectare swath of land to China to be developed under a 43-year lease. The rest of the land will be handed over to the China Overseas Port Holding Company in the near future, according to the press release.
