Five Years of BRI and Shared Future for Mankind.

Byline: Muhammad Asif Noor

This year marks the five years of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)- a mammoth ambitious geostrategic initiative in contemporary history of the world politics. Announced by President Xi in 2013 during his two historic visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia, the initiative has thus far been the largest wherein the 65 countries have consented to be part of, over 200,000 jobs created, investment exceeds $70 Billion mark, 75 overseas joint economic projects were initiated, 38 bilateral agreements were made between China and other countries, 403 direct flight routes, new shipping routes connected 47 countries thus far and in the first half of the year 2018, 7.48 B $ has been invested while 47.8 B $ new engineering contracts were given.

With such an unprecedented growth thus far in its five years, BRI is a new global world order. Established with a vision to create a shared destiny of peace and prosperity, the initiative has two major land and sea routes: a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st century Maritime Silk Road which are further divided into economic corridors. Apart from these, the BRI has five key subjects to cater including: infrastructure development, uninterrupted trade ties, financial integration, strengthening political cooperation and people to people exchanges. The key purpose of this global investment project is to enhance economic interconnectivity and to develop infrastructure across South East Asia, Eurasia, Indian Ocean, the Middle East and Africa.

The massive initiative has great economic and trade significance for states across the world. From concept to action and from planning to implementation, BRI has put forward tremendous amount of opportunity for Pakistan as well to get the maximum fruits and benefits. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the flagship of BRI and the most active economic corridor amongst all has put forward huge infrastructure and economic development opportunity for the country.

Pakistan is at the crossroads of this gigantic Chinese initiative and has all the potential to take the benefit. When in 2013, President Xi, announced this initiative, almost all the capitals of the world began sending the positive responses to the invitation of joining this phenomenonal vision that the Chinese leadership has put forward for the world to connect in variant dimensions. With its equality, openness and inclusiveness, the Belt and Road circle of friends has been expanding ever since and...