ISLAMABAD – Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing has appreciated Pakistan’s effortsto accelerate China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects particularly thegroundbreaking of western route.
He said this while meeting Minister for Planning, Development and ReformMakhdum Khusro Bakhtyar in Islamabad today (Tuesday).
The Minister hailed China’s support in implementation of Gwadar Airportproject and said that the present Government attaches top priority to thedevelopment of Gwadar.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his recent visit to Balochistan,besides performing ground breaking of the 65 billion rupees Zhob-Kuchlaksection of western route, also approved 17 billion rupees project oftransmission line for Makran coast, 23 billion rupees new Gwadar Airportproject, hospital as well as vocational institute.
The Minister said implementation of 300-MW energy project in Gwadar will bealigned with the development of Gwadar.
He said that CPEC has gained momentum and efforts would be made to continuethe same pace in future.
He stated that first special Economic Zone at Rashakai will be launchedsoon in order to enter into the implementation stage of Pak-ChinaIndustrial Cooperation.
Khusro Bakhtyar further said that cooperation will be further strengthenedby formal framework agreement focusing on joint ventures.
Emphasizing on the need for robust cooperation between the businesscommunities of the two countries, he said we should move towards Pak-ChinaBusiness Forum with representatives from leading companies of the twocountries in various areas.
The Minister called for cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and livestocksectors between the two countries to benefit from the enormous potentialthis area offers.
During the meeting, they deliberated the proposed visit of the PrimeMinister to China to participate in the second Belt and Road Forum thismonth.