International Relations
Context: External Affairs Minister made a reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Present Status of the CPEC:
- A lot of the energy projects were completed.
- Some of the road projects have been completed, others not;
- The special economic zones were pared down to a smaller number than originally envisaged and have moved very slowly;
- Most of the projects around Gwadar are far from completion.
- There’s just been nothing significantly new agreed over the last few years from the much bigger package that was under negotiation.
- There were uncertainties about the economic feasibility of some of the larger projects — hydro-electric dams and railways.
- Gwadar is just very difficult as a location, in logistical and security terms.
- The current total that both sides cite is $25 billion, and it was $19 billion five years ago
Source: Indian Express
