Chinese envoy says CPEC is first chapter of One Belt One Road

Chinese envoy says CPEC is first chapter of One Belt One Road

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Sun Weidong Wednesday said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the first chapter of Chinese grand vision of One Belt One Road.

Addressing a ceremony regarding One Belt One Road here, the Chinese Envoy informed that the One Belt One Road Summit was being held in Beijing on May 14, which would be attended by representatives of 28 countries and experts from across the world.

He said China was a peaceful country and gives priority to work together with the rest of the world.

He said during last three years, work on 19 projects of CPEC had been initiated with a cost of US$ 18.5 billion, and most of them would likely be completed by next year.

He said international standard state-of-the-art technology was being utilized in all CPEC projects.

The Chinese envoy said as many as 60,000 Pakistanis had received direct employment opportunities through CPEC.

He said Pakistani youth were also being sent to China for training.

He said Pakistan also gives special importance to the security of Chinese people and has established a special security division comprising of over 14000 security personals.

He said China wanted to increase imports of goods from Pakistan, therefore Pakistan should manufacture the products by keeping in view the Chinese needs.

Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, Mushahid Hussain Syed said, CPEC was not aimed at harming any country.

"This mega project will help bringing various countries and cultures close together", he added.

He said the Chinese GDP was 30 per cent of the world's total GDP whereas it contributes 25 per cent share in the world's total trade.

He said within Pakistan, all less developed areas of the country had been included in CPEC for the socio economic uplift of these areas.

The ceremony was also attended by foreign envoys, parliamentarians and officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (APP)