What is being cooked in China, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan
China has called for four-party cooperation with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal to deal with the corona infection.
Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi held a virtual meeting with the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan. By the way, this meeting was specially convened to deal with the corona infection. But it also discussed the improvement of the economic situation and China’s ambitious project Belt and Road Initiative.
Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar and Foreign Minister of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gowali attended the meeting. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi did not attend this meeting. But he sent his video message while Economic Affairs Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar was present as his representative.
In this meeting, China’s foreign minister also appealed to support the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in dealing with Corona. America has already raised many questions regarding the role of WHO in dealing with Corona and has separated itself from the organization.
US President Donald Trump has said many times that the WHO did not give the right information at the right time and also accused the organization of favoring China. The World Health Organization dismissed all the allegations of America as unfortunate.
During the discussion on Corona, China’s foreign minister also said that whenever China develops the corona vaccine and will also ensure that the vaccine reaches all three countries. He also assured China’s help in improving health facilities in these three countries.
But amidst all this, he should not forget to mention that the four countries should support the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Chinese Foreign Minister said, “We will promote the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Trans-Himalayan Connectivity Network. We will also cooperate on extending this corridor to Afghanistan.”
What is BRI?
Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China intends to lay a network of roads and ports in Asia and Europe, making it easier for Chinese goods to reach markets in the world.
Many countries of the world have come with China in this project, but India has been opposing it since the beginning. China has made diplomatic efforts to include India, which has failed.
To increase its reach in the world, China has planned to connect 65 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. It is also known by the name New Silk Route. Earlier it was called ‘One Belt One Road’ i.e. OBOR Project.
It was later renamed the Belt and Road Initiative.
The main reason behind India’s opposition is that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is also being built under the project. Under this, the road starting from China goes to Pakistan’s Gwadar port, but for this road passes through Gilgit-Baltistan. This part currently falls in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, but India considers it its part.
Meaning
The Chinese Foreign Minister has taken this initiative at a time when there is a lot of tension between India and China over the border dispute and still a large number of troops of both countries are standing on the border.
India’s relations with Pakistan as well as neighboring country have deteriorated.
Although China had also requested India to join the project, but India refused. America also keeps raising questions about this project.
During this meeting, the ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal supported the proposal of the Foreign Minister of China. These countries also thanked China for help in the Corona period.
These countries also appreciated the role of WHO.
Pakistan’s Minister of Economic Affairs said that his country is ready to cooperate in the war with Corona. At the same time, there will be support for cooperation on the economic front.
Referring to Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that good neighbor means good luck. He asked Nepal and Afghanistan to follow the example of cooperation between China and Pakistan.
He said that learning from the cooperation of Pakistan and China, Afghanistan and Nepal should cooperate so that the corona can be brought under control. He also cited economic cooperation with Pakistan.
Modi also took initiative
In March this year, when the case of corona infection started coming in the Indian subcontinent, then the Prime Minister of India met with SAARC countries and appealed for cooperation.
On 15 March, the head of all countries had participated in that meeting with videoconferencing, but Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan did not attend this meeting. He sent his health minister for this meeting.
At that time PM Modi had said- We are facing serious challenges. We do not know what the nature of this epidemic will be. We can come together and deal with it. We have to be ready for the strategy. India is ready to give 10 billion dollars to combat the corona virus.
The meeting was attended by Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Maldives President Ibrahim Soli, Bhutan Prime Minister Lotte Tshering, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pakistan’s Health Minister.
