BEIJING – While appreciating comments of Prime Minister Shahid KhaqanAbbasi on Belt and Road Initiative at Davos World Economic Forum, a Chineseforeign ministry spokesperson said Monday that initiative originated inChina, but the opportunities and achievements in building the Belt and Roadinitiative belong to the world.
“We have always said that the initiative to jointly build the Belt and Roadinitiative originated in China, but the opportunities and achievements inbuilding the Belt and Road initiative belong to the world,”Hua Chunyingsaid during her regular briefing here.She said that the Chinese side would cement the overall global economicrecovery by expanding the physical and cultural environment ofinterconnection and expanding effective global demand.
The Prime Minister in a recently attended a forum discussion and mediainterview in Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland had said that the“One Belt and Road Initiative” proposed by President Xi Jinping would helpenhance the level of global connectivity.
Pakistan was an important participant in the Belt and Road Initiative andhad truly felt the many benefits that the initiative had brought toPakistan’s economic development.
China and Pakistan infrastructure construction project would not only bringbenefits to its neighboring countries but also to its own neighboringcountries.
The spokesperson said that the Chinese side had said many times that themain objective of the “One Belt and One Road Initiative” proposed by Chinawas to strengthen development cooperation and promote win-win developmentby strengthening international cooperation and focusing on infrastructureinterconnection and mutual development.
In the recent five years, the “Belt and Road” had proceeded smoothly andalso achieved fruitful results, she said and added, “It has provided alarge number of employment opportunities for the countries concerned,improved the development environment for participating countries and thespace and potential for regional cooperation, and are welcomed by thecountries and peoples concerned.”
Hua Chunying said that China was ready to work with all parties to continueto firmly promote the “Belt and Road” in line with the principle of jointlybuilding and sharing and open up broader prospects for the commondevelopment and prosperity of all countries in the world.
Responding to a question about Indian Ambassador to China, she said thatregarding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China had clarified itsposition on many occasions and she would not repeat it.
With regard to the differences between China and India, she said that Chinawas ready to maintain communication and dialogue with the Indian side andproperly control it.
“It will also actively seek solutions acceptable to both sides so that thedifferences will not affect the overall situation of the relations betweenthe two countries. This is in the best interests of both countries”, sheadded.
To yet another question, she explained that divergence between any two ortwo countries required that both parties showed sincerity and flexibilityand promoted understanding and mutual trust through dialogues in the spiritof equality and mutual respect so as to seek proper handling and controlover differences.
“We have said many times that the CPEC is purely an economic cooperationproject that does not involve the issue of territorial disputes nor anythird party. I hope India will treat this issue objectively,” she added.
To a question about China-India border dispute, she said that China hadsaid many times that the Sino-Indian border Sikkim had been demarcated byhistory, and that the Donglang region belonged to China and had always beenunder China’s effective jurisdiction.
The spokesperson said that China had made it clear that China wouldcontinue to exercise its sovereignty rights in such a porous area inaccordance with the stipulations of historical conventions and safeguardits own territorial sovereignty.
She said that the Chinese side’s infrastructure construction activities inthe turbulent area belong to the affairs within the sovereignty of Chinaand were completely legitimate and legitimate.
She said that China and India, as two major neighboring countries in Asiaand two big developing countries, should regard each other as opportunitiesfor development rather than threats.
On the meeting of the Sino-Indian border defense forces held a bordermeeting, she said that the Chinese side believed that strengtheningcommunication and exchanges between the border guards helps to enhancemutual understanding and mutual trust and was conducive to jointlysafeguarding peace and tranquillity in the border areas.