Launch of the Silk Road Community Building Initiative in Xinjiang

2019-09-10

On September 6, 2019, the launching ceremony of the Silk Road Community Building Initiative for China-Pakistan (Xinjiang-Balochistan) was held in Urumqi. Aierken Tuniyazi, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Regional Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, Governor of Balochistan, Pakistan and Liu Kaiyang, Deputy Secretary-General of China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) attended and addressed the ceremony. Participants totaling around 50 including heads of relevant government departments and NGOs from Xinjiang as well as all members from Balochistan Tribal Chiefs Delegation invited by CNIE attended the event.

In Aierken Tuniyazi’s speech, he briefly reviewed the important achievements made in Xinjiang’s active endeavors in building the Belt and Road core area since the inception of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He said that Xinjiang is an important bridge to promote China-Pakistan cooperation with its prominent advantages and enormous potential. He stressed that the exchanges and cooperation between Xinjiang and Balochistan is a key component of that between China and Pakistan. The Silk Road Community Building Initiative has brought about new opportunities for further enhancing friendly people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. The Chinese side is willing to work together with the Pakistani side to advance people-to-people connectivity and promote high-quality development of the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor core area as well as to make due contribution to improving the well-being of the two peoples.

Amanullah Khan Yasinzai said that the Silk Road Community Building Initiative is an important proposal, which will play an important role in enhancing people’s friendship, expanding NGO cooperation and promoting common development for the Belt and Road countries. Social forces from Pakistan, especially from Balochistan feel very delighted to participate in this Initiative. He hoped that, with the joint efforts of all parties, the Initiative can serve as an enabling brand to build new platforms for and injecting fresh impetus to people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between BRI countries.

Liu Kaiyang, Deputy Secretary-General of CNIE, expressed that CNIE stands ready to work together with NGOs, relevant government departments of BRI countries to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation as well as people’s friendship. CNIE will play a positive role in advancing the building of a community with a shared future for humanity based on the principle of consultation, cooperation for shared benefits.

Following the launching ceremony, CNIE hosted China-Pakistan Civil Society Symposium on September 10 in Beijing, during which the Pakistani side had in-depth exchanges with representatives from organizations including the Red Cross Society of China, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, China Cultural Heritage Foundation, China Medical Association, China Foundation for Lifeline Express and China Overseas Ports Holding Company Limited and reached initial consensus on conducting livelihood projects like Panda Pack Project and nursery bags donation project in Pakistan.