China's 'Belt & Road' Initiative: 23 things you want to know

The newly built Gwadar port is the crux of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the BRI’s flagship project for convenient access to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The first Chinese ship sailed on this new international trade route in November 2016, carrying goods to the Middle East and Africa. The goods had arrived on a truck convoy by a road linking China's Xinjiang region to Gwadar. The port site, leased to a Chinese company will include manufacturing zones, logistics hubs, warehouses, and display centres. Currently, a $62 billion package of energy and infrastructure projects are under construction throughout Pakistan. China is seeking convenient and reliable access to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Another highlight of the CPEC plan is a rail link over the 4,693-meter high Khunjerab Pass that will provide direct access for Chinese and East Asian goods to Pakistani seaports at Karachi and Gwadar by 2030.