Research on the Transportation Infrastructure Construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
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World Journal of Research and Review (WJRR) ISSN:2455-3956, Volume-6, Issue-3, March 2018 Pages 93-97 Research on the Transportation Infrastructure Construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Aimin Deng,Qian Liu Abstract—As an important part of the "The Belt and Road" II. PRESENT SITUATION OF TRANSPORTATION strategy, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION IN occupies a very important position. After more than four years CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR of construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the results of the economic corridor’s transportation infrastructure According to the cooperation agreement signed by the construction have become increasingly apparent, and positive China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, 11 billion dollars have progress has been made in railways, highways, and urban been invested in the construction of transportation infrastructure. The transportation infrastructure construction infrastructure between China and Pakistan. The of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor faces many favorable interconnection and intercommunication was first shown in conditions. Through the joint efforts of the two countries, the transportation infrastructure construction will continue to the construction of highway projects. Among them, the improve, and will gradually become an important carrier of upgrade project of the Karakoram Highway linking China China-Pakistan land transportation artery and the fate and Pakistan was completed in early 2015. After the community building China and other Asian countries. expansion, the Karakoram Highway was changed from the Index Terms— “ The Belt and Road”, China-Pakistan original 10 meters wide to 30 meters. It can reach speeds of Economic Corridor, Transportation Infrastructure up to 80-100 kilometers per hour and overcome the obstacles Construction that obstruct lakes obstruct traffic, which greatly shortens the schedule for snow closure. The former China-Pakistan Highway (Karakoram Highway) connects Kashgar, China, I. INTRODUCTION and Takot, the northern capital of Pakistan. The second phase The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was proposed by of the Karakoram Highway project started construction in Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013. April 2016. The second phase of the project connects the It refers to the large-scale 3000-kilometre traffic artery from original to Pakistan. The roads in the northern Takot town Kashgar, China to Gwadar, Pakistan, which was jointly extend to the hinterland of Pakistan, and better strengthen the established by China and Pakistan. It is a key hub connecting interconnection between China and Pakistan. The second the North-South Silk Road. A trade corridor that includes phase of the project will link the former China-Pakistan highways, railways, oil and gas, and cable channels is also an Highway to the north hub of Pakistan’s No. 1 railway from important part of the “Belt and Road”. This paper mainly Tacot to Pakistan’s Havillian. A two-way, four-lane discusses the issues of the transportation infrastructure such expressway with a speed of 120 kilometers per hour will be as roads and railways in the China-Pakistan Economic built. In addition, in December 2015, another major highway Corridor. project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Transport infrastructure is the basis for the construction of Karachi-Laher highway project (Sukol to Multan section) economic corridors. By strengthening the construction of was officially signed and will be put into construction.It was transport infrastructure and achieving interoperability, invested 2.89 billion dollars. The completion of this project regional accessibility can be changed, transportation costs has greatly strengthened Pakistan’s North-South connectivity. can be reduced, and the flow of production factors among The construction of highway projects in regions can be promoted. Regional trade, division of labor, Kuiper-Pakhtunkhwa province in the west of Pakistan's the influence of specialization and agglomeration economies Balochistan is also continuing. The construction and will eventually promote the common development of upgrading of most sections of the West Line Highway project regional economies. Therefore, China-Pakistan Economic of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is nearing Corridor should regard the infrastructure construction and completion. interconnection of the transportation sector as the priority In addition to the highway project, there are new advances areas and breakthrough points for cooperation. in railway interconnection and interoperability between the two countries. During President Xi’s visit to Pakistan, the State Railway Administration of China and the Ministry of Railways of Pakistan signed the “About the Launch of the Aimin Deng, School of Economics and Trade, Institute of Transportation Trunk Line 1 (ML1) Upgrade and the framework agreement and Logistics, Hunan University, Changsha, China of the joint feasibility study of Harvey land port construction. Qian Liu, School of Economics and Trade, Hunan University, Changsha, According to the Pakistani plan, the Pakistan also hopes to China carry out relevant feasibility studies on the upgrading of 93 www.wjrr.org Research on the Transportation Infrastructure Construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor railway 2 and 3, and Harvey’s construction of the railway the construction of roads, railways, oil and gas pipelines and linking Hongqilar at the Sino-Pakistani border, planning to optical cables covering the "four-in-one" channel for the construct or renovate the corridor “West Line”. It is a total of construction of Kashgar, the southwestern port of Pakistan. In 1,153 kilometers of transportation projects. The Ministry of April 2015, President Xi’s visit to Pakistan opened a new Railways also hopes to attract foreign investment, improve upsurge in the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic the maintenance and production of locomotives, and upgrade Corridor. With the joint efforts of the leaders of the two infrastructure such as railways and stations. On October 26, countries, the visit signed a total of 51 cooperation 2015, China International Air Lines opened the agreements valued at $46 billion, which effectively promoted Beijing-Islamabad route, which was the first air channel and accelerated the construction of the China-Pakistan opened by domestic airlines to connect Beijing and Islamabad. Economic Corridor. In addition, the Chinese company also undertook the Chairman Jinping Xi wrote on the signature article layer construction of the Lahore Orange Line rail transit project, published in Pakistan, “The two sides should focus on the which is 27 kilometers long. China Exim Bank provided a construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, loan of 1.61 billion U.S. dollars for the construction of the Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure construction, and project. By the end of 2015, the project has completed industrial cooperation as the four major priorities, forming a infrastructure construction. '1 + 4' cooperation layout. It will promote the development of various regions in Pakistan and benefit Pakistani people.” III. FAVORABLE CONDITIONS AND CONSTRAINTS IN THE The Pakistani side also eagerly hopes that China-Pakistan CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN strategic partnership can release more economic momentum, CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR help it get rid of growth difficulties, and achieve economic take-off. The construction of the China-Pakistan Economic A. Advantages Corridor has won the whole nation’s consensus and is widely 1. Strategic leadership regarded as a key measure for “changing destiny” and even (1) "The Belt and Road" Strategy “changing the pattern”. The China-Pakistan Economic “The Belt and Road” initiative was proposed by Chinese Corridor runs through more than 3,000 kilometers of major President Xi during his visit to Central Asia and ASEAN traffic arteries across China and Pakistan and plays a major countries in 2013. It is a major strategic decision made by the role in the China-Pakistan transport interconnection network. Chinese government to actively respond to changes in the Therefore, the transportation infrastructure construction of global situation and make overall plans for the domestic and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will certainly become international markets. “The Belt and Road” links Central a priority area and breakthrough point for China-Pakistan Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia, and traffic construction. connects the two major economic circles of the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. It is the world’s largest and most 2. The demand for economic and trade development promising economic cooperation region. The China-Pakistan between China and Pakistan Economic Corridor helps the "The Belt and Road" progress China and Pakistan established trade relations since the smoothly. As the leader of the “The Belt and Road” initiative, early 1950s. Pakistan is the first South Asian country to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a pilot zone for recognize the status of China’s market economy, and is also international cooperation in the “Belt and Road”. It shoulders the first country to establish a free trade zone with China. heavy responsibility and the corridor construction needs to Pakistan’s import and export trade with China, especially its play a demonstration role. It is the implementation and import trade, has been rising year after year. China is promotion