By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: China’s embassy in Islamabad on Monday denied a report that a top Chinese official had criticized Pakistan’s handling of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The embassy described the report by the Guardian newspaper as “completely untrue” and said it “violated professional ethics and breaches basic respect for the common understanding.”
“We have noted that the recent article in The Guardian, allegedly quoted the remarks of a Chinese diplomat, which is completely untrue. The rhetoric and wording imposed is obviously not credible, lacking the basic understanding of China’s position,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement.
The Guardian on Sunday had quoted China’s political secretary to Islamabad, Wang Shengjie, as expressing “serious concerns” about the project’s future due to security challenges. The top Chinese official also criticized Pakistan’s “false rhetoric” around projects, according to the Guardian report.
“We don’t work in rhetoric like Pakistan – we just focus on development,” he was quoted as saying. “If this kind of security situation persists, it will hamper development.” “If the security is not improved, who would come and work in this environment? There is hatred against the Chinese in Gwadar and Balochistan,” Shengjie was quoted as saying. “Some evil forces are against the CPEC, and they want to sabotage it.”
The Chinese embassy responded by emphasizing China’s commitment to the CPEC and its development efforts in Balochistan.
“China has always supported the construction of Gwadar Port and the development of Balochistan,” the Chinese embassy statement said. “In March last year, we provided $100,000 in emergency cash assistance for disaster relief work in Balochistan.”
“In May, China transported 10,000 sets of solar lighting equipment to be distributed in Balochistan. In June, we handed over the Gwadar China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital and Gwadar desalination plant.”
In July, China organized a media delegation from Balochistan to visit China while in August, 20,000 sets of health kits were distributed to Balochistan.
“In October, the new Gwadar International Airport was successfully completed. In November, we organized delegations from all walks of life in Gwadar to visit China. In December, outstanding Pakistani staff of the CPEC project, including those in Balochistan were awarded.”
The embassy said it would soon award “Chinese Ambassador Scholarships” to students in Balochistan University, Sardar Bahadur Khan University and Gwadar University.
“Those tangible achievements represent China’s determination and confidence for the development of Gwadar and Balochistan,” the embassy concluded. “We sincerely hope that China-Pakistan practical cooperation and livelihood projects can better benefit the local people.”
The CPEC, launched in 2015, has been a cornerstone of Pakistan-China relations, with Beijing investing over $65 billion in the project. Progress on the economic corridor has been slow, particularly in the restive southwestern Balochistan province.
Recent attacks, including one in October 2024 in which two Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, have forced Beijing to publicly criticize Pakistan over security lapses.
Pakistan has repeatedly assured China it would protect its nationals in the country from militant outfits and has tightened security protocols for Chinese investors and nationals.
Islamabad says attacks on Chinese nationals are an “international conspiracy” to sour ties between the two longtime allies.
Separately, Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejected allegations that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had attended an event hosted by a lobbying group critical of China’s ruling Communist Party during his recent visit to the United States.
“Responding to media speculations, the spokesperson categorically rejected baseless and unfounded allegations to target Pakistan-China friendship,” the FOstatement said.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment to the foundational principle of the One-China Policy which is a consistent cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and remains unchanged.”
“This relationship is characterised by mutual trust, shared values, support on issues of core concern and a commitment to regional and global stability,” it added.
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