Pakistan reaffirms support for China’s GDI, seeks expanded cooperation under CPEC Phase-II

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), describing it as an important platform for strengthening solidarity, promoting South-South cooperation and translating development partnerships into tangible benefits for developing countries.

The prime minister made the remarks while addressing a high-level GDI meeting hosted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the timing of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s launch of the GDI three years ago, saying the initiative had emerged at a critical period when developing countries were facing the severe economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the GDI’s objectives were closely aligned with Pakistan’s own efforts towards economic transformation and development.

“Pakistan’s cooperation with China also continues through the Belt and Road Initiative and its flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is now entering into its second phase,” the prime minister said.

He added that, as the international community approaches the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Pakistan was prepared to deepen cooperation with China and other partners under the GDI by replicating successful development projects at scale and exploring new areas of cooperation.

The prime minister pointed to a series of challenges confronting developing economies, including the growing financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals, climate-related disasters, rising food and fuel prices and the impact of renewed geopolitical tensions.

He argued that these challenges had contributed to reversing development gains achieved by many developing countries over the past decades.

Against this backdrop, he called for stronger multilateral cooperation and welcomed China’s GDI as a timely framework for addressing development challenges through greater international cooperation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the GDI had already produced practical benefits in the developing world and described its approach as being rooted in “win-win cooperation”.

He further stressed that the initiative could contribute to accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda while supporting a more representative global governance architecture that was responsive to the priorities of developing countries.

The prime minister also called for efforts to strengthen the United Nations’ development pillar and improve its ability to deliver tangible results on the ground.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for initiatives aimed at strengthening international development cooperation, while emphasising Islamabad’s desire for continued coordination with China and other members of the Group of Friends.

The prime minister said Pakistan would continue working closely with its “iron-brother China” to advance the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

His remarks placed the GDI, Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC within the broader framework of Pakistan-China cooperation, with CPEC now moving towards its second phase and Pakistan seeking to expand cooperation beyond infrastructure towards wider development and economic transformation.