Good afternoon! Asalamu alaykum! Welcome to ourConsulate.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 75 years, especially after the launch of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has achieved remarkable economic and social development. China has maintained an average annual economic growth rate of 8.9% for 45 consecutive years, increasing its economic scale by 47 times. It has become the world’s largest industrial manufacturer, largest trading nation, largest foreign exchange reserve holder, and the second-largest economy. China now has built the most complete modern industrial system in the world. China has realized industrialization in just a few decades, which took developed Western countries several centuries.
If you have been to China, especially big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, you would be deeply impressed by China’s urban development, high-speed railways, highways, bridges, modern infrastructure, as well as advancements in aerospace, information technology, and new energy development. At the same time, China’s system and capacity for governance have been further modernized. China now has put in place the world’s biggest systems of education, social security, medical care and community-based institutions of democracy, has become one of the safest and most orderly countries in the world, and the happiness index of the Chinese people is constantly improving. Many facts and figures have been collected and covered in the newly released book <China leads> authored by Dr. Junaid Ahmad. Some of our Pakistani friends once said that China has already or will soon become a superpower.
However, everything must be viewed from both sides. To speak frankly, China is still far from being a developed country. At present, China per capita income remains relatively low, only 17% of the level of the United States, 25% of Germany, and 34% of Japan. China’s development is also unbalanced and inadequate. In terms of regional development, the eastern coastal areas of China are relatively well-developed, but the vast central, western, and northeastern regions are less developed. From the perspective of rural development, China’s urbanization rate is currently about 66%, lower than the approximately 80% in developed countries. In 2022, rural disposable income was only 40.9% of that of urban residents, and less than 10% of rural residents in the United States, Japan and other developed countries.
While China’s economy is huge, but even a large total divided by a population of 1.4 billion is a small number. Whether considering labor productivity, per capita industrial value added, car ownership per thousand people, per capita education spending, medical expenditure, or social security expenditure, China still lags far behind developed countries. Therefore, China still remains an authentic developing country.
The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly stated that China is a large developing country and is still in the primary stage of socialism. No matter how China’s economy develops or how its international status rises, China will always be a member of the developing world, striving for common rights and interests and safeguarding shared benefits withthe vast number of developing countries.
As a large developing country and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has made positive and significant contributions to world peace and development over the past several decades. In the 1960s and 1970s, despite its own limited wealth and resources, China helped build some major infrastructure projects like Karakoram Highway and Tanzania Zambia Railway, which vividly illustrated the “true friendship in times of need” between China and Pakistan, as well as othercountries.
From 1979 to 2023, China contributed 24.8% annually to global economic growth, ranking first in the world. China has taken the lead in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and has contributed over 70% to global poverty reduction. As the largest contributor to the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative, China accounts for over 40% of the global debt relief totally. China is now the second-largest contributor to the UN budget and the second-largest contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Forces. China is actively advancing a low-carbon transformation and is a key force in global green development and addressing climate change.
In 2013, President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed the BRIcooperation agreements with China for now. Over the past 10 years, under the principles of “extensive consultation”“joint contribution” and “shared benefit”,the BRI has mobilized nearly one trillion U.S. dollars in investments worldwide, initiated over 3,000 cooperative projects and created 420,000 jobs for BRI partner countries.
According to the World Bank, the BRI has led to a 4.1% increase in trade, a 5% increase in foreign investment, and a 3.4% rise in GDP for low-income countries. By 2030, the BRI is expected to generate 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars in global benefits annually, accounting for 1.3% of global GDP, helping nearly 40 million people get rid of poverty around the world. The BRI has become a platform for global cooperation and a breakthrough for the world economy to overcome low growth.
China is one of the most peace-loving countries in the world. For a long time in human history, China was one of the most powerful countries in the world, but it has left no record of colonization and invasion of other countries. China’s adherence to the path of peaceful development is an inheritance and development of the peace-loving cultural tradition of the Chinese nation over thousands of years.
Since its founding, the People’s Republic of China hasremained firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, and has always been committed to emphasizing its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development. Even as China grows stronger today, it has no intention of turning itself into an American-Soviet-style super-hegemony. China does not pursue the path of great power rivalry, nor does it follow the traditional approach of emerging nations challenging established powers. It does not engage in colonialism, or enslave underdeveloped countries. It does not undermine the existing international political structure, challenge the international order, or pursue spheres of influence. Instead, China advocates for the principle of peaceful coexistence and strives to live in harmony and develop together with all countries in the world.
As a matter of fact, among the world’s major countries, China has the best track record with respect to peace and security, and it is the only major nation that has enshrined its adherence to the path of peaceful development in its Constitution and it has been contributing to maintaining world peace with practical actions. In recent years, China has been making unwavering efforts to peacefully resolve international and regional hotspot issues. China has endeavored to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, to promote reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia with positive results, and to make great efforts to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian Question and to the political settlement of the Ukraine Crisis.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
The world has entered a new period of turbulence andtransformation. Some countries are recklessly pushing forward geopolitical competition. The world economy is becoming more fragmented, with its weak growth and spreading unilateralism and protectionism. The economic globalization has faced headwinds and counter-currents, and the world openness index is declining. Today, humanity has once again come to a historical crossroads.
No matter how international and regional situations evolve, China will continue to advance high-quality development under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China to build a great country and move toward national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.
In July this year, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made systematic plans to further deepen reform comprehensively and promote Chinese modernization, making it clear that the overall goal of further deepeningreform comprehensively is to continue to improve and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and to advance the modernization of the nation’s governance system and governance capacity.
And to this end, the plenary has put forward more than 300 consequential reform measures pertaining to building a high-standard socialist market economy, advancing high-quality economic development, promoting high-standard opening up, improving the people’s quality of life, and building a beautiful country. It also clearly stated that these reform tasks must be completed by 2029, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Our goal is to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035, andfrom 2035 through the middle of this century, to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.
At the same time, China will be dedicated to peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit and strive to safeguard world peace and development as it pursues its own development, and China will make greater contributions to world peace and development through its own development. Nowadays, China will work with all countries in the world to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiativeproposed by President Xi Jinping, and actively advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
A few days ago, President Xi Jinping attended the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Peru and the 19th G20 Summit in Brazil. President Xi Jinping once again sent a clear message on firmly upholding multilateralism at this historical crossroads and advancing global governance with Chinese wisdom, showcasing China’s image as a responsible major country that is fair and just, courageous and accountable, open and inclusive.
At the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, President Xi Jinping emphasized that: we should stay committed to multilateralism and an open economy, advance regional economic integration and connectivity, tear down the walls impeding the flow of trade, investment, technology and services, uphold stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and promote economic circulation in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
We need to firmly seize the opportunities presented by the new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information, life and health, and other frontier areas. We need to foster an open, fair, just and nondiscriminatory ecosystem for innovation, and promote a leapfrog development of productive forces across our region.
We should strengthen economic and technical cooperation and increase support for developing economies and disadvantaged groups, and work together to grow the pie and distribute it equitably to allow more economies and people to benefit from development.
At the 19th G20 Summit, President Xi Jinping put forward proposals to improve global governance in five areas, including economic, financial, trade, digital and eco-environmental fields, and to build a world economy characterized by cooperation, stability, openness, innovation and eco-friendliness.
He also outlined China’s eight actions for global development, including : on top of RMB 700 billion yuan added financing windows and an additional RMB80 billion yuan injection into the Silk Road Fund, China is moving ahead with the development of the multidimensional Belt and Road connectivity network to build a green Silk Road and empower a digital Silk Road.
Implement the Global Development Initiative, build the Global South research center, and put to good use of the 20 billion US dollars of development funds to support developing countries. Join the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and support the G20 in continuing to convene the Development Ministerial Meeting, and will stay a committed host of the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste. Propose an Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science to help the Global South gain better access to global advances in science, technology and innovation. Pursue high-standard opening up, and unilaterally opening our doors wider to the least developed countries (LDCs) and give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. From now to 2030, China’s imports from other developing countries are likely to top 8 trillion US dollars.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
In recent years, under the joint guidance and promotion of President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders, China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperation has continued to deepen. Not long ago, Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Pakistan and attended the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This visit, which came only four months after Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit to China, underscores China’s strong support for the development of China-Pakistan relations.
Currently, China-Pakistan iron-clad friendship iseverlasting and ever-refreshing. The Pakistan-China relationship is of strategic significance. Both sides firmly support each other’s core interests and development paths, the China-Pakistan relationship has always been a priority in China’s foreign relations. Any attempt to disrupt or undermine Pakistan-China cooperation is bound to fail.
The two sides will continuously strengthen practical cooperation across various fields, jointly upgrade the CPEC and accelerate the construction of major projects in railways, highways, and ports. Following the important common understanding between leaders of the two countries, the two sides are ready to advance the upgradation of ML-1, and agreed to build Karachi-Hyderabad section in line with the modality of “implementing in a phased manner.” The two sides will work together to refine and optimize the construction plan of Karachi-Hyderabad section and formulate financing and implementation plans that are feasible and sustainable at the earliest.
The two sides will actively seek financial support for the Karakoram Highway (Raikot-Thakot) realignment project under the terms of the Framework Agreement of the project, and facilitate the project’s early execution.
The two sides will speed up the development of the auxiliary infrastructure of the Gwadar Port, steadily attract more cargo shipments to the port, find a solution to inadequate water and power supply at an early date, accelerate the development of the port’s industrial zone, and solidly enhance connectivity between the port and other parts of Pakistan. The New Gwadar International Airport project aided by China has been completed.
Our two sides are also deepening cooperation in agriculture, mining, information technology, energy, trade, and culture. China supports its companies to invest in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones in line with the market and commercial principles. It is expected that the Pakistani side will improve its business environment and provide a favorable policy framework for Chinese investment.
China will continue support Pakistan to improve the well-being of its people, aiming to ensure that development benefits reach all regions and communities. Under the framework of the CPEC Working Group on Socio-Economic Cooperation, the two sides will strengthen their cooperation particularly in areas like healthcare, agriculture, education, climate response, and disaster prevention, while continuing to promote projects that improve people’s livelihoods.
China firmly supports Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and asks Pakistan to take targeted security measures to comprehensively safeguard the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, so as to create a safe and secure environment for the cooperation between our two countries.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Media cooperation is an important part of China-Pakistan relations. The media plays a crucial role in advancing people-to-people exchanges, promoting mutual understanding and enriching the content of bilateral relations.
We sincerely hope that the media friends will continue to report extensively and positively on China’s economic and social development, China’s foreign policy as well as China-Pakistan relations and the construction of the CPEC, and make more positive contribution to the enhancement of mutual understanding between thepeople of our two countries and the deepening of the development of bilateral relations.
We also hope that the media of the two countries strengthen communication and exchanges and push forward practical cooperation. The Consulate General of China in Karachi is willing to play the role of a bridge to actively provide assistance. We will also continue to invite the media friends to visit China to experience China’s development and progress by yourselves and the profound friendship between the Chinese and Pakistani people.
Finally, I believe that with the joint efforts of all of you, the people from China and Pakistan will further enhance mutual understanding, walk hand in hand on theirrespective paths of development, and work together to build a closer community with a shared future between China and Pakistan in the new era.
Thank you all.
Editor: Kamran Raja