BEIJING: Pakistan Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid Thursday said that theBelt and Road Initiative (BRI) would bring comprehensive changes inPakistan besides infrastructure development and trade connectivity.
Talking about the potential benefits for his country in joining theinitiative, he pointed out that Pakistan had a good geographical location,lying between two big neighbours.
“With its links to Central Asia, Pakistan offers natural access for Chinesegoods to the region,” he told China Global Television Network (CGTN).
He described the Belt and Road initiative as a trigger for development,which would help Pakistan boost its competitiveness.
Ambassador Khalid stressed that his country was thinking not only in termsof infrastructure development, but also in terms of trade connectivity.
The changes would be comprehensive.
“For one thing, it will enhance prosperity by boosting employment,’ headded.
He said that the Belt and Road initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinpingin 2013, was a new blueprint for fostering closer trade, investment andcultural ties across much of the world, using a patchwork of newinfrastructure, diplomacy and trade deals.
More than 40 countries and organizations had now signed up to the Belt andRoad initiative and infrastructure projects worth more than 60 billion USdollars were already underway.
Ambassador Khalid believed that over the next five years, more countrieswould sign up and pointed out that already, up to 65 countries hadconfirmed their interest, and more were coming in.
He said that this in itself was a clear manifestation of the success ofthis new initiative, adding, with the passage of time, he was confidentthat more countries would appreciate the initiative’s underlying spirit,which was cooperation, connectivity and inclusive development.
The Belt and Road initiative, he said, was not just about big ticketinfrastructure projects. It was also about diplomacy, trade deals and aboveall, goodwill between different peoples. – APP