ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing on Friday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had brought phenomenal economic success to Pakistan and produced tangible economic benefits for the people.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the fifth CPEC Media Forum hosted jointly by the Chinese embassy, Pakistan-China Institute and China Economic Net, the ambassador said CPEC is fulfilling the country’s energy needs, providing 30 percent of total electricity generation and providing energy security for economic development in the country.
Taking a jibe at US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells’ statement criticising CPEC, Ambassador Yao Jing said, “If the US is really concerned about the lack of electricity in Pakistan, why didn’t American companies come to build power stations before 2014.”
The Chinese ambassador said he was ‘shocked and surprised’ at Wells’ remarks over CPEC which he said ‘fully exposed’ her ignorance of Pakistan-China relations.
He said that both Pakistan and China agreed that all projects related to CPEC are “clean and transparent”.
“We welcome American investments in Pakistan and we don’t have a problem with it. But the US should not cause aspersions over something they don’t have accurate information on,” said Ambassador Jing.
He said 75,000 Pakistanis are directly employed in CPEC projects while there are 200,000 indirect beneficiaries and that over 100 Pakistani companies are involved in CPEC projects, which will generate 2.3 million jobs till 2030 and will contribute 2-2.5% to Pakistan’s GDP.
Senator Mushahid Hussain in his welcome address to the forum said that the success of the Pakistan China partnership “rankles many countries.”