BEIJING Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, SenatorMushahid Hussain Sayed has welcomed Pakistan’s offer to Saudi Arabia tobecome the third partner in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)framework and said it would provide a new trade route between China and theGulf countries.
“The corridor is not only meant for China and Pakistan but it is aframework of the development and connectivity for other countries of theregion and beyond as well,” he told APP here before leaving for Islamabadon Monday after attending a conference on Belt and Road in China.He said that Saudi Arabia was a brotherly country and its participation inthe CPEC would prompt other countries of the region to join thismulti-billion dollar flagship project of China’s Belt and Roadinfrastructure initiative which would be a good sign for peace andprosperity.
He said during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Pakistan,both China and Pakistan had agreed that the corridor construction couldabsorb third-party participation and benefit the entire region.Responding to a question about the smooth progress of the CPEC under thenew government, he said the entire nation had a consensus over theframework and expressed the confidence that it would continue as perschedule.
“Both the Chinese and Pakistani sides have expressed complete satisfactionover the progress of the CPEC and reached a new consensus on betterpromoting the construction of the corridor,” he added.He said the CPEC was a long-term plan and expressed the confidence that asit moved forward and bring about prosperity and peace in Pakistan as wellas the region.
Senator Mushahid opined that the corridor would equally benefit the peopleacross the country and said that power stations, major highways and otherdevelopment projects were being completed in all parts of the country.“The key infrastructure development, as well as the growth of industrialestates around the new routes, will help connect the country and spreadgrowth more equitably, rising living standard and increase the opportunityof employment for millions of people,” he added.
Highlighting Pakistan’s economic growth after joining the CPEC, he saidthat the projects under the framework had boosted Pakistan’s economicgrowth by one or two percentage points every year, adding, the GDP growthrate remained 5.9 per cent, highest in the last nine years, because ofinvestment from China.
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Congratulating China on the completion of five years of the BRI announcedby Chinese President Xi Jinping, he said that since the initiative waslaunched in late 2013, China had signed 150 cooperation documents with 106countries and 29 international organizations.The CPEC, the Pakistan leg of China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructureinitiative was a reality and the benefits of this flagship project werevisible and it had ushered in a new era of economic development in Pakistan.“We have overcome the shortage of electricity while a number ofinfrastructure projects are being completed in different parts of thecountry,” he added.
Terming Pakistan a major beneficiary of its rich and deep relationship withChina, he said that in recent years, the work being carried out under theBelt and Road Initiative had become a game changer for Pakistan.
“A number of power generation projects have been completed in Pakistan. Asa result, electricity load-shedding has reduced drastically.Infrastructure, road and transport projects are also being completed. Whilework to complete different facilities at Gwadar deep sea port isprogressing well. Around 70,000 locals have also got employment owing tothe ongoing development projects under CPEC,” he added.He said the building of power stations, major highways, new and upgradedrailways and higher capacity ports, fibre optic cable and airports wouldhelp turn Pakistan into a major overland route linking western China to theworld.
He said that the Belt and Road Initiative offers the prospect of enlargedtrade, production and prosperity – not only for its 60 participatingcountries but also for the entire global community.
