CPEC Phase-II to go in full swing — II

Exclusive interview with Chinese Consul General in Lahore, Mr Zhao Shiren

Punjab Bureau of Investment and Trade is also in touch with the Consulate to explore cooperation opportunities. In this context, I believe that more Chinese investments will come to Punjab.

Meanwhile, we should bear in mind that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is not China-Punjab Economic Corridor. Which means that the joint projects and cooperation should be smartly planned and properly positioned to benefit all parts of Pakistan. We have no preference over a particular region or province, and only ask for synergy and further alignment of our development strategies. We should adopt a tailor-made and balanced approach, while taking stock of the local conditions and circumstances”.

The CG also informed The News about scholarship programs initiated in Punjab’s universities. Elaborating, he said, “Language and technology are essential to economic growth and social progress. Language serves as an effective communication tool to nurture mutual understanding across countries, cultures and civilisations as it also helps in bringing the people closer, boosting business, trade and investment. Technology is the driving force for economic prosperity and well-being of a society. In this regard, many programs have been done, and some are still ongoing.

Since assuming office two years ago, I have attached personal importance to promoting cooperation and exchanges in language, education, healthcare, and people-to-people contacts. We have set up the Chinese Consul General’s Scholarship Programme for some universities in Punjab, and provided grants to local hospitals and nonprofit and social welfare organizations. We dispatched two batches of doctors and nurses from Lahore to China for medical training. We facilitated media delegations’ visit to China. Last year, we partnered with the Punjab police to launch the Chinese language learning project for Special Protection Unit officers and sepoys. We were requested by the caretaker provincial government this January to bring in the Chinese environmental experts from Beijing to help tackle the smog pollution in Lahore. We are all in and keep working”.

The News asked, ‘Any MoUs are being signed in the near future, between Pakistan and China’?

Mr Zhao Shiren replied, ‘Many MoUs have been signed and projects being implemented. We may recall that during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s last visit to China in November 2022, China and Pakistan signed a number of Agreements and MoUs covering wide range of areas. Prime Minister Shehbaz visited China this June, and 23+32 cooperation framework agreements and MoUs were signed both in Beijng and Shenzhen, further expanding bilateral cooperation in digital economy, agriculture, financial cooperation, infrastructure, security and law enforcement, media and film industry, education, science and technology.

Being all-weather strategic cooperative partners, China and Pakistan have both institutional cooperation mechanism and collaboration platforms in place, and they are working in trajectory. Signing of MoUs and agreements is very important, and it is more important to have them honored and implemented in letter and spirit. I can assure you that on China’s part, we will do our utmost and best to ensure the timely, efficient and professional implementation of the MoUs and agreements’.

Responding to a question on security arrangements for the protection of Chinese people working in Pakistan, the Consul General told The News, ‘The March 26 Bisham attack is not only a terrorist act, but also a heinous crime targeting the CPEC, China-Pakistan friendship and the overall bilateral relations. Such attacks have further exposed the ugliness of terrorism menace in Pakistan. China accords high importance to the full investigation and exemplary punishment awarded to the perpetrators.

We have taken note, with both appreciation and satisfaction, that the Pakistani government, the army, security forces and law enforcement agencies have intensified their efforts in fighting terrorism. More Intelligence-based operations conducted, combing and search operations stepped up, with more terrorists being eliminated. The Pakistani government recently announced Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. We stand by Pakistan in fighting terrorism of whatever forms and manifestations.

Coming back to Punjab. During my meetings with Madam Chief Minister, Assembly Speaker, provincial ministers, Inspector General of Police, Home Secretary, and other key officials, I appreciated and commended the government for taking all possible measures to ensure the maximum security and safety of the Chinese in the province. They are serious and really take security of foreign nationals to their hearts. I also conveyed to them some concerns from the Chinese business community. Security can’t be compromised in any circumstances. I’m also of the view that the hosting government bears primary responsibility to provide fool-proof security to foreigners, including the Chinese, and the burden of responsibility shouldn’t be shifted from the government to the innocent individuals. Besides, security should be further aligned with development, and the approach and measures should be fine-tuned and more targeted, considering varied risk levels of regions and areas, and different needs from different groups’.

Whether any Chinese dignitary /VVIP is expected to visit Pakistan in the near future? Answering this question, the CG said,’ China and Pakistan have maintained close contacts and high-level exchanges. It has become a tradition indeed. Frequent exchange of visits by high-profile officials is not only a goodwill gesture, but also a must to further strengthen the friendly ties between us.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was reported to have given his affirmative answer to this when he chaired a cabinet meeting on June 11. Let me quote here ‘(A) High-powered Chinese delegation (is) to visit Pakistan soon.’ Then from June 20-23, Minister Liu Jianchao of International Department of the Central Committee of CPC came to Islamabad for a follow-up meeting under the CPEC framework. So there is something more in the pipeline. Insha Allah, let’s see when more will come’.

And, how do the Chinese view PM Shehbaz Sharif’s working? The CG stated: ‘We acknowledge the dedication, commitment and hard work made by various Pakistani leaders in developing their country and managing their state affairs, which certainly includes PM Shehbaz Sharif. The Chinese people respect, appreciate, and have regard of the Pakistani political leadership for their goodwill and sincerity towards the Chinese.

As Consul General of China in Lahore, I had the opportunity to meet the PM once at his Model Town residence, and was impressed with his leadership quality, pragmatism, and easy-going approach.

Public service asks for efficiency, while delivery demands speed. ‘Shehbaz Speed’ or ‘Punjab Speed’ is quite well known to the Chinese both here and back home, which is a testament of and an accolade to the Prime Minister’s governing performance when he was the Chief Minister of the Punjab. Shehbaz Sahib was re-elected PM after the February elections. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang both congratulated him on assuming the office. Three months into the federal government, the Prime Minister paid his first official visit to China. The arrangements, warm welcome and best protocols accorded to him during the visit, have sent a strong signal to the world that both China and Pakistan remain committed to further developing the bilateral cooperation and the traditional friendship’.

The last question asked was: ‘We have noticed that some Western countries have expressed concerns over China’s ‘industrial overcapacity’, especially in the EV (Electric Vehicles), batteries and photovoltaic sector. What’s your opinion?

Reply from CG: ‘Such concerns are fabricated and hyped, with no evidence or proof to back up at all. Blaming China for new energy overcapacity is an easy-taken maneuver by some Western countries. It is like the Chinese saying of calling a stag, a horse, or calling white, black.’

It not only misrepresents and distorts the true picture of China’s new energy development, but also has negative impact on the supply chain and market flows of the products. This attempt aims to curtail China from energy transition and manufacturing and exporting of the new energy products, dealing a big blow to the joint efforts of the international community in tackling climate challenges.

China’s new energy capacity is the need of the world for energy transition and green development. It is estimated by International Energy Agency that the global demand for new energy vehicles by 2030 will reach 45 million, 4.5 times that of 2022, and global demand for new photovoltaic installations will also soar. As new energy is concerned, the problem facing the world today is not overcapacity, but under-capacity, a severe shortage of manufacturing and exporting capacity. China’s green technology and products are mainly for its domestic consumption in addressing the energy challenges, and also contribute to global low-carbon and green transition.

China’s booming new energy industry is driven by technology and innovation, and dictated by the laws of economics and market mechanism, not by government subsidies. The competitiveness of its products highlights China’s heavy investment in research and development, plus adhering to the proverbial saying of ‘early birds catch the worms.’

Accusing China of new energy overcapacity manifests trade protectionism and economic nationalism by the Western countries. The Bloomberg analysis shows that the export-production ratio of the Chinese electrical vehicles is far lower than other car producing nations, such as Germany, Japan and Korea. Chinese electrical vehicles are not dumped on global markets. The overcapacity rhetoric provides, in essence, a pretext and an excuse for those countries to impose excessive tariffs on Chinese products, and protect their under-performing auto industries and jobs. Market restriction and trade limitation of the new energy products will do no good to China and the countries in need. It instead will backfire.

China stands ready to work with all parties concerned in upholding market rules and fair play. Doing business, we ask for nothing but a level playing field. We will continue to contribute to the global energy transition and green development’.