BEIJING, Mar 4 (APP): Cheng Xizhong, Visiting Professor of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, on Friday said that the visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan is very important and of long-term significance.
In his point of view, the two sides held comprehensive consultations, discussed pragmatic cooperation and reached broad consensus. The fruitful results are mainly reflected in the following aspects.
First, Prof. Cheng, also a former Chinese diplomat in Pakistan, said is the docking the development strategies of the two countries, thus forming complementarity and raising the bilateral practical cooperation to a strategic height.
He opined that both Pakistan and Uzbekistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The two countries have similar national conditions, share many general characteristics and are committed to economic development and poverty eradication.
If ‘Naya Pakistan’ centered on social justice and economic security and New Uzbekistan aimed at the socio-economic interests of the people are closely integrated, both countries can reinforce complementary advantages and maximize their respective interests, achieving common development and progress, he added.
Second, Prof. Cheng noted that the joint statement ‘Next Steps in the Strategic Partnership’ issued during the visit, emphasized regional connectivity.
The development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and large-scale transportation infrastructure construction in Pakistan, especially the construction of transportation infrastructure of the CPEC Western Route, have already created very favorable conditions for the regional connectivity of the whole South and Central Asia. It is now necessary for relevant countries in the region to actively participate in the building of the regional connectivity like Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
Another key issue is that all parties concerned should make concerted efforts to help and promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, which will accelerate realization of the regional connectivity.
The Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project under consideration will play an important role for the future of the region as it is the most economical and shortest route connecting Central Asia with Pakistan’s ports of Karachi, Gwadar and Qasim, Prof. Cheng added.
Third, according to Prof. Cheng’s observation, developing pragmatically cooperative relationship with Russia and Central Asian countries including Uzbekistan is an important part of Pakistan’s geo-economic strategy.
Due to its Vision Central Asia, Pakistan’s comprehensive cooperative relations with Russia and Central Asian countries have advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years.
For example, over the past five years, the joint ventures between the two business communities of the two countries have increased fivefold and despite the pandemic, the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was increased by 50% last year.
“From the talks and interactions between the two sides during this visit, I strongly feel both Pakistan and Uzbekistan, which have profound cultural ties, are committed to not only maintaining regional peace and stability, but also promoting regional economic cooperation,” he added.
