To make his point, he began to refer to the virus as the China virus and the Wuhan virus. This led to severe damage to the economy of Shanghai and also had global economic consequences. After the Chinese had taken control of the situation, they began to focus on developing their economy. But that push must overcome a formidable roadblock in the shape of China's restrictions on critical minerals. Pakistan's wish to partner with China was to result in the multi-billion-dollar global project the Chinese were to call the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI.

Source: The Express Tribune December 29, 2025 00:36 UTC