May 21 marks the 65th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

In 65 years, the two countries have seen many cooperation projects, with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor being the recent highlight.

What is the Economic Corridor?

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an economic initiative raised by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan in May 2013.

The Corridor geographically overlaps with China-Pakistan Railway, which starts from northwest China's Kashgar and ends at Pakistan's port city Gwadar.

A file photo shows the location of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. [Photo: 999js.com]

The corridor is an economic and trade route, equipped with transportation, energy, and telecommunication facilities, which aims at promoting interconnectivity and mutual development.

Roads

Karakoram Highway: Road of Friendship

Karakoram Highway, linking China's Kashgar with Pakistan's Thakot, was built in the 1960s.

A file photo shows Karakoram Highway between China and Pakistan. [Photo: chinahighway.com]

In 2008, the two countries started an expansion project (KKH project) that further stretched the road to Gwadar port. The first phase of the project was finished in September 2015. The second phase has started this year.

As the only land transportation route between China and Pakistan, the KKH project played an important role in enhancing economic, trade, and tourism exchanges.

Peshawar-Karachi Motorway: Breaking New Ground for Pakistan

Early this May, China and Pakistan have officially launched the Peshawar-Karachi Motorway project, kicking off the biggest transportation infrastructure project under the Corridor initiative.

The motorway measuring 1,152 km starts from Pakistan's biggest city Karachi, passing through the second largest city Lahore, and ends at Peshawar.

A file photo shows the location of Peshawar-Karachi Motorway. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

The road will not only promise faster trips from the north to south in the country, but also provide easier access to neighboring countries including China, Afghanistan, and Iran.

Port

Gwadar is Pakistan's third largest port, located on the country's southwest coast. It is one of the most important points along the Corridor.

A file photo shows the aerial view of Gwadar Port Pakistan. [Photo: baidu.com]

China started to provide financing and technological assistance to the port construction as early as 2002. The construction was finished around 2015 and is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2016.

The Pakistan authority is currently planning to further build the port into a free trade area.

Once completed, the port will open a sea route to northern Pakistan, which may shorten the trip by 400 km compared with the land route.

The port will not only facilitate trade, but also create jobs for local people.

Energy

The construction of Qasim Coal-fired Power Plant started in May 2014.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inspects Qasim Coal-fired Power Project in Pakistan on December 28, 2015. [Photo: powerchina.cn]

The Qasim power plant, due to be completed in 2017, will generate 9.5 billion kilowatt electricity every year, a volume that can help relieve the power shortage facing Pakistan.

Other energy projects including a hydropower station by Gezhouba Dam Group and a wind power project by Three Gorges Group are also underway.

Telecommunication

On May 19 this year, the China-Pakistan Fiber Cable Project has been officially launched in Pakistan's northern city of Gilgit.

A commencement ceremony is held for the optical fiber cable project between China and Pakistan in Pakistan’s Gilgit on May 19, 2016. [Photo: CRI Online]

The 820-kilometer project, to be finished by 2018, will provide an alternate telecommunication route between the two countries.

Pakistan will no longer have to depend on the Indian Ocean Submarine Cable.

Once completed, the route will bring 3G and 4G to Gilgit.