Abstract
The process of regional integration becomes indispensable for peace at state, regional and international level. This paper aims to highlight Pakistan and China’s cooperation in achieving regional integration and their steps towards a new phase of geo-economic relations. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will have considerable implications not only for China and Pakistan but also for Central Asia Republics (CARs). CPEC is part of China`s advancement planning of One Belt One Road (OBOR,) which intends to link it with South Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa via land and sea. CPEC is prone to steer a large economic activity in Pakistan and at the same time, its spill-over effects will have positive impact on CARs. CPEC comes in high times when Pakistan gets membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and signs energy projects such as Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan Pakistan India gas Pipeline (TAPI). Hence the paper raises the questions; why CARs are taking interests in ongoing regional integration projects of China and Pakistan? How will Pakistan act as a bridge in connecting CARs with other regions? The paper endeavors to prove that CPEC is an important project for CARs, eventually it will steer regional peace and harmony.
Keyword(s)
Integration, CPEC, TAPI, CASA-1000, Connectivity Projects, CARs