This is apropos a Business Recorder news item "CPEC progressing satisfactorily, PM tells China's Xi" carried by the newspaper on Sunday. According to it, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his government was making all-out efforts towards active implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a core component of your visionary initiative of the 'One Belt-One Road'. We sincerely appreciate your commitment and leadership for the realisation of CPEC projects," the news report quoted prime minister making these remarks in his meeting with President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guest House on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation.

That China's Silk Road plan is a reality is a fact. India had chosen to stay away from the Beijing summit on highly untenable and unrealistic reasons. It is indeed an unfortunate development insofar as India's own interests are concerned. China's President Xi Jinping has warned about economic isolationism. India's prime minister Narendra Modi must ponder upon what President Xi has said at the Silk Road summit.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017