The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is proposed by China to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in cooperation with related countries. It was unveiled by President Xi Jinping during his visits to Central and Southeast Asia in September and October 2013.

Photo shows a 300-MW photovoltaic power plant built by China First Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd. in Bahawalpur District of Punjab Province, Pakistan. [Photo by Chen Ming/China News Service]

In July 2013, then Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited China. After comprehensive discussions, both leaders agreed on a road map for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In April 2015, President Xi visited Pakistan. During the two-day visit, both sides signed 51 agreements/contracts/MOUs, which kick-started the official launching of the CPEC. The Chinese government declared that the CPEC is a flagship project of the BRI, and China will extend its fullest support to it at every level.

The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of the CPEC under the leadership of the National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) of China and the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives of Pakistan was constituted to prepare the Long-Term Plan for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (2017–2030). Regular meetings of the JCC were held to discuss details of each project, monitor the progress and expeditiously remove any bottlenecks on each side.