ISLAMABAD: Chinese scholar Dr Zhang Yifeng on Friday said that China hasentered into an era of geo-economic relationship with Pakistan and it plansto boost two-way trade from $12 billion to $20 billion.
China aims at investing $1.3 trillion in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)member states by the year 2027 which would become the single-largestinvestment by any state to help boost regional and trans-regionalconnectivity and trade.
Addressing the participants at a seminar titled “CPEC: An overview ofcurrent developments” held under the aegis of Muslim Institute, the Chinesescholar from Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China, said thatChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has truly become a gateway toprosperity by linking Western China with Pakistan.
He said that China has entered into an era of geo-economic relationshipwith Pakistan and it plans to boost two-way trade from $12 billion to $20billion.
Other than Dr Zhang Yifeng, Prof Zamir Ahmed Awan from National Universityof Science & Technology (NUST) Islamabad, Dr Hassan Yaser Malik, charteredmember of Institute of Logistics & Transportation, UK, defence analyst Brig(r) Asif Haroon Raja, Muslim Institute Chairman Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali,former Islamabad Chamber of Commerce president Zafar Bakhtavri andInstitute of International Relations, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences,China Deputy Director Dr Li Kaisheng also spoke on the occasion.
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Dr Zhang said that CPEC is the cornerstone of BRI which is rooted in theSilk Road. He said that CPEC is the spirit of peace, cooperation, openness,inclusiveness and mutual benefit.
“BRI provides Pakistan and the surrounding countries a great opportunity bygiving an integrating platform for over three billion people in Central,West, South Asia as well as the Middle East and Africa,” he said.
The Chinese scholar said that CPEC is aimed at boosting the economic growthof Pakistan while ensuring energy security, development of agriculturesector along modern lines, the establishment of Special Economic Zones(SEZs), tourism development, human resource development, nationalintegration and regional linkages as well as technological innovations.
