BEIJING, Oct. 24 (INP): As a major development Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vast “Belt and Road” infrastructure project was unexpectedly included in the ruling Communist Party’s constitution on Tuesday. It may be mentioned here that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is being treated as a pilot and major project of the Belt and Road’s initiative. The party’s amended charter, approved at the close of its twice-a-decade congress, pledged to “pursue the Belt and Road initiative”, a further sign of Xi’s expanding power and evidence that the ambitious “Silk Road”-like initiative will endure beyond Xi’s tenure. It also underscores how the Communist Party has increased its attention to foreign policy and reflects Xi’s growing desire for China to take a global leadership role, analysts said. “Everyone knows that the Belt and Road is very important to Xi, it has his personal stamp and authority,” said they added. First mentioned during a speech Xi gave to university students in Kazakhstan in 2013, the plan is a vehicle for China to take a greater role on the international stage by funding and building global transport and trade links in more than 60 countries. Xi has heavily promoted the initiative, inviting world leaders to Beijing in May for an inaugural summit at which he pledged $124 billion (£94 billion) in funding for the plan. Local Chinese governments as well as state and private firms have rushed to offer support by investing overseas and making loans. Pakistan is being considered as a major beneficiary of the China’s loans’ policy. Meanwhile, over 2300 delegates voted unanimously to include a reference to “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” in the party’s constitution on the last day of five-day party congress in Beijing. Deng Xiaoping is the other leader whose name is mentioned in the important document. Xi Jinping is only the second Chinese leader after Mao Zedong to earn his mention in the party’s constitution.   INP/J/AK