BEIJING – The construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), arare development opportunity in its history, has entered the harvest stagewith 11 projects completed and the other 11 projects in the late stageof completion.“Although Pakistan has many difficulties now, I think Pakistan is having arare development opportunityin its history. The construction of the CPEC has entered the harvest periodwith 11 projects completed and the other 11 projects in the late stage ofconstruction,” said Cheng Xizhong, a senior fellow with the ChaharInstitute in his article published in the China Economic Net here onTuesday.He informed that these days, there is a lot of good news about power plantconstruction. Unit one of HubPower Plant has been connected successfully and would soon be put intocommercial operation.Qasim Coal-Fired Power Plant has generated 7.559 billion Kwh of electricityand paid more than US $ 167 million tax to the Pakistani government.With the successful operation of several large-scale power stations underthe corridor framework,Pakistan’s power shortage is being significantly improved, thus providing atremendous impetus forthe country’s overall and rapid development, he added.He remarked that at the same time, the transportation infrastructureconstruction underCPEC framework would lead the development of special economic zones,industrial parks,processing and manufacturing zones, science and technology parks andservice industries along the corridor.
“It will not only promote the development of industrialization and scienceand technology, but alsocreate a large number of employment opportunities, train plenty oftechnical personnel, and enhance thecountry’s export capability,” he added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan recently said main task of his government in thisyear wad to fight poverty,illiteracy, injustice, and corruption, he said.“As I see, the fundamental solution to these problems is inseparable fromdevelopment. Only in the processof development, these problems can be solved,” he added.He said now Pakistan is facing difficulties and the Chinese government hasmade it clear that it wouldcontinue to provide support and assistance to Pakistan’s economic andsocial development throughassistance, trade, investment, and all-around pragmatic cooperation.Saudi Arabia has also expressed its willingness to invest US $ nine billionin the CPEC and the construction of a large-scale refinery in Gwadar.To help Pakistan overcome its financial difficulties, China, Saudi Arabia,the United Arab Emirates,Kuwait, Qatar, and other countries were providing emergency assistance toPakistan, he added.He remarked that the CPEC was a huge project jointly constructed by Chinaand Pakistan. It was adevelopment project, a hematopoietic project, the largest livelihoodproject, and a well-being project.
Its main purpose was to cultivate Pakistan’s economic development ability,social progress abilityand self-reliance ability.Cheng said he remembered that 40 years ago, in the early days of economicreform and opening up,China faced similar problems, such as lack of funds, lagged in technologyand poverty.At that time, China formulated a series of policies to continuously improveits investment environment and attracted a lot of foreign investment andadvanced technology, which led to the country’s overall technologicalprogress and rapid economic development.
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After 40 years of unremitting efforts, China has become the second largesteconomy in the world,he added.
China and Pakistan are all-weather friends. The high integration ofsociety, economy, technologyand culture between the two countries was conducive to build a sharedfuture of the two peoples.
