Islamabad  -  Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa held talks with the People’s Liberation Army Chief General Han Weiguo on Monday to discuss the regional security environment and protection provided by the Pakistani troops to the $62 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, part of China’s global Belt and Road initiative.

The visit comes on the heels of a ruling political party minister’s remarks about CPEC that sparked off a big controversy about Chinese investments in Pakistan and drew a strong reaction from the Chinese officials.

Adul Razzak Dawood, an adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on commerce and industry, was quoted by the Financial Times newspaper recently as suggesting that CPEC projects should be put on hold for a year as the government reviews the drafts of agreements related to CPEC. Some skeptics in the past have also raised apprehensions that the growing Chinese imprint in the country risks denying local businesspeople and manufacturers a level playing field.

The Chinese embassy issued a strong statement after the publication of the interview and stressed that CPEC is a mutually beneficial project for both the countries. “Both governments will carry it forward according to the needs of Pakistan and for the development of Pakistan,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement last week.

General Bajwa’s three-day visit to China is being seen in this context and aims to iron out any wrinkles following the controversial statement by the Pakistani commerce minister, analysts here say. General Bajwa’s visit to China is also of significance as it is the first by a top Pakistani official since the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan took the reins of power in Islamabad after the July 25 general elections. Khan will embark on his first foreign visit this week as he travels to Saudi Arabia.

The fact that Gen Bajwa is visiting China soon after the recent controversy over CPEC suggests that the Pakistani military establishment is also very sensitive towards the CPEC projects and views it as a game changer for the country. In essence, CPEC has become a linchpin of bilateral ties between China and Pakistan.

The increased cooperation between the two sides also comes at a time when Pakistan’s relationship with the United States has cooled off. The strained ties with the United States have made Pakistani policymakers to look elsewhere, and China has always been seen as a reliable and consistent partner, compared with the testy and mercurial United States.

During the meeting Tuesday with General Bajwa, General Han Weiguo expressed his keen desire to benefit from the Pakistani military’s combat experience, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, ISPR.

“The Chinese Army Chief appreciated the high degree of security being provided to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects by the Pakistan Army,” the statement read.

The PLA chief appreciated and acknowledged high professional standing of Pak Army displayed while combating terrorism. He also expressed his desire of expanding cooperation between the two armed forces.

Gen Bajwa thanked his Chinese counterpart for hosting him and stated that both armies have a history of cooperation and there are broad avenues for further enhancing the same, ISPR statement added.

China plans to connect to the Western world via Gwadar through CPEC projects as it looks to enhance its trade. The Chinese investments would result in an overhaul of the road and railway networks of the country and setting up of industrial zones, which will spur economic development and progress.

COAS, PLA chief discuss regional, CPEC security