Highlights
The outcome of recent meetings between the two countries reveals significant scaling down of Pakistan`s expectations
The Pakistani side clarified that the debt situation is being monitored
Pakistan has been unable to secure any favourable consideration including the concessionary loan at an interest rate of one per cent
Islamabad: China has shown reluctance to clear a USD 6 billion loan for the single largest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) due to the growing concern over mounting debt.
The cost of the Mainline-I (ML-I) railway project was initially USD 9 billion but later it was reduced gradually to USD 6.8 billion. According to a report in The Express Tribune, Chinese authorities are wary of Pakistan`s ability to service its debt.
May 9, 2021
On April 14, US President Joe Biden extended the utopian deadline of May 1st, 2021 for the American withdrawal from Afghanistan that was negotiated between the Trump administration and the Taliban.
The three months of White House analysis has allowed Biden to formally announce the ending of the “forever war”. The new date for withdrawal of foreign troops is now September 11, 2021 – marking 20 years of the 9/11 attack that significantly changed the world. The US landed on Afghan soil after the Afghan Taliban rejected the American demand of handing over Osama bin Laden. The war started with widespread international support, but it too became a long and bloody slog. Afghanistan is called the graveyard of empires for a reason. But is this graveyard of empires destined to be a graveyard for human freedom in a post-American withdrawal Afghanistan?
BEIJING, May 9 (China Economic Net) - Marking 70 years of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties, both countries are set to issue commemorative stamps on May 21 to honour the relations between the two countries.
China has decided, in cooperation with Pakistan, to issue a set of commemorative stamps which include two pieces, featuring Zhuhai Port, China and Gwadar Port, Pakistan, says State Port Bureau of China. 7.1 million units of the commemorative set will be in circulation from May 21.
The stamps contain distinctive elements of Zhuhai Port and Gwadar Port. Setting blue as the characteristic hue, artists used graphic design techniques to present the beautiful scenery of the two ports through a bird s-eye view. The stamps are special-shaped, with two stamps being linked together, forming the visual effect of waves undulating and flags flying. Up in the left-hand corner is the name of the stamp combined with red/green, the basic colors of the national flags of China/Pakistan. Overall the
Daily Times
May 8, 2021
Biden’s commitment to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by September 11 comes without any strings attached. There are no conditions, such as placing responsibility upon the Taliban to ensure that no non-state actors (like Al Qaeda) take refuge in the country and/or use Afghan soil against the US and its allies in any form.
The absence of pre-conditions is to help create an “independent, sovereign, unified, peaceful, democratic, neutral and self-sufficient Afghanistan”. Is this feasible, however? Many questions need to be answered.
The Taliban are stronger today than ever before. “Many experts say the Taliban is a powerful fighting force that threatens Afghan democratic institutions, citizens’ rights, and regional security. The group has withstood counterinsurgency operations from the world’s most powerful security alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and three US administrations in a war that has killed more than 6,000 US
BEIJING, May 8 (China Economic Net) - The Award Ceremony of the China (Henan) & Pakistan (Balochistan) Drawing Contest for Middle School Students and the Sister School Contract Signing Ceremony, co-hosted by the People’s Government of Henan Province, the Government of Balochistan, Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and undertaken by China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC), etc., was held online in Zhengzhou and Gwadar simultaneously on May 7.
The Award Ceremony of the China (Henan) & Pakistan (Balochistan) Drawing Contest for Middle School Students is held in Zhengzhou and Gwadar online on May 7.
The 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties is around the corner. Since the beginning of 2021, the drawing contest themed by “Pakistan in my heart” and “China in my heart” had started among students of the Affiliated Middle School of Henan Normal University, Zhengzhou No. 122 Middle School and Gwadar Faqeer Middle School. Nearly 20,000 Chin