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| The Participants in
University Alliance of the Silk Road summer Camp 2017 |
During July, 2017 I had this profound pleasure to
visit China to attend a summer camp, titled: “University Alliance of the Silk
Road (UASR) Summer Camp 2017”. The summer camp was organized at Xian Jiao-tong
University, Xi'an—the provincial capital of Shaanxi. The camp was officially
launched on 15 July 2017, in which 237 students participated from 18 member
universities of UASR. Most of the students were from Russia, Pakistan and
Kazakhstan.
This university alliance was established in 2015 in
a spirit to promote the regional development and cooperation by creating a
cooperative educational platform for the member countries. The aim of the event
was to promote Chinese culture and their softer image through student exchange
program between Xian Jiaotong University and other UASR member universities.
This camp gave students the opportunity to interact with the other participants
coming from the different parts of the Asia. This multicultural environment
laid the platform for us to discuss important regional issues and share opinion
and perspectives. While interacting with some Chinese students at the camp, I
asked them about their views on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its
impact on the region. It was very interesting to observe that, for most of the
Chinese colleagues, CPEC is just another Chinese development project in the
region, just like their other megaprojects in different parts of Asia, Middle
East and East Africa. During my interaction(s) with Chinese officials and host
students, there was a positive realization on the Chinese investment in Pakistan
and how this overall ‘regional development’ will help to promote bilateral ties
between the two countries i.e., China and Pakistan. At that point of time, I
realized that the ‘hype’ or ‘politicization’ of CPEC is very much one sided.
For Chinese CPEC is just another project which has been very positively
conceived and being executed.
During my stay in China, it was indeed a great
pleasure to sense and observe that the slogan "Long live Pak-China
Friendship" has some embedded meanings and values attached within the
Chinese society. I was overwhelmed by the very friendly and welcoming attitudes
of Chinese towards Pakistanis.. Your introduction as ‘Pakistani’ is itself more
than enough to bring a smile on their faces. You can feel the strong sense of
mutual understanding and harmony between the people from both countries.
During the summer camp, a lecture was dedicated to
the ‘Modern Silk Route’ (One Belt One Road Initiative). The lecture was given
by the one of the professors from the department of International Studies in
Xian Jiaotong University. In his presentation, the professor promoted the
narrative that one of the main reasons behind the development of CPEC is China’s
overcapacity. Because of its overcapacity, China’s production is increasing and
exports are decreasing. In this context, Pakistan has been considered as a
developing nation and a potential market for China.. Therefore, the CPEC can
develop and utilize both land and sea trade routes linked with Pakistan, in
return the international trade will increase in Pakistan and this project will
eventually help China in managing its over capacity through new trade routes.
It is pretty much evident that this project i.e., CPEC is very much based on
economic lines and will be playing a significant role towards enhancing bilateral
ties between the two countries.
Contributor Syed Ali Akash is MS student of Peace & Conflict
Studies at the Centre for International Peace & Stability (CIPS) - National
University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). This article is the personal
opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy of
any particular institution or organization.