BEIJING: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can help the Africancountries access wider Asian markets with much-reduced time and economiccost.
This was stated by Pakistan’s envoy to African Union (AU) Asghar Ali whileaddressing the Belt and Road Dialogue for China-Africa Cooperation, Chinesemedia reported on Saturday.
“CPEC will offer the shortest route to China and beyond to the widerregional market,” he said, adding that Pakistan will enhance itsinteraction with the African countries through the Gwadar deep sea port.
The dialogue was jointly organised by the AU and the Chinese Mission to theAU in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
Ali highlighted Pakistan’s keen interest to cooperate with the Africancountries in various socioeconomic sectors. He described CPEC as an“important opportunity” for African countries to reduce the economic costof penetrating the much-larger Asian markets.
The Pakistani envoy’s positive remarks were also echoed by African andChinese officials attending the event, as they emphasised the need todeepen partnership under the BRI so as to drive the momentum in theChina-Africa Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.
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“A large number of projects involving railways, roads, bridges, airportsand seaports and industrial parks are being implemented, bringing genuinebenefits to Chinese and African peoples and enriching the China-AfricaComprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership,” Liu Yuxi, Head of theChinese Mission to the AU, said in the high-level dialogue.
“If China and Africa can join hands in cooperation under the BRI, greaterprogress will be made to keep China-Africa cooperation on a steady path tolong-term development,” the Chinese envoy to the 55-member pan-African blocstressed.
AU Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner Amani Abou-Zeid also shared Liu’scomments, saying that the China-Africa strategic cooperation strategy couldfurther deepen under the successful and effective implementation of the BRIand the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
