ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jang said on Friday said thegovernment and the people of China were eagerly waiting for the historicvisit of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in first week of November asBeijing was pinning high hopes on the new government in term of bringingpeace and development not only in Pakistan but the whole region.
Addressing a press briefing, Jang said China wanted to see Pakistaneconomically strong and independent country to promote regional peace,prosperity and stability.
He said during the visit, the prime ministers of the two countries wouldwitness signing of a number of bilateral agreements in areas of mutualinterests besides participating as a guest of honour in Business Conferenceto be held in Shanghai on November 5.
He said China was willing to extend maximum possible support to Pakistanand a good news is expected at the conclusion of the visit.
The Ambassador said Pakistan was a longstanding trade and strategic partnerof China and “we have plans to invest more under Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) and buy more from the Pakistan to make it economically stronger andindependent country”.
He said during the visit of Imran Khan a major breakthrough in a number ofprojects under CPEC was expected specially in Rashakai Special EconomicZone where the agreement is likely to be finalized and it is also expectedthat ground breaking of this SEZ would be held by the end of current year.
He also appreciated the new government’s efforts to bring peace in theregion by offering peace talks to its neighborly countries.
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With regard to CPEC, the Chines envoy rejected the notion of some elementsthat the project would only benefit China and Pakistan would get nothingout of it. “We are building this mega project based on mutual sharing andmutual interests,” he added.
Yao Jang said China trusts in Pakistan that was why it was investing such ahuge amount for the economic development of the country.
Deputy Chief of Chinese Mission in Pakistan Lijian Zhao said Pakistan owesdebt to China worth of only USD 6 billion which was only around 6.3 percentof Pakistan’s total foreign debt and repayment of this payment would starton 2021with payment of $300-400 million per year.
“All the CPEC projects are funded by commercial loan which are borrowed andrepaid by the Chinese companies,” he said adding that this is no debt onPakistan government. – APP
