ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of China to Pakistan Yao Jing on Monday said thatPakistan should make China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a part of itsnational strategy as it would contribute to its long-term economicdevelopment as well as the development of the whole region.
He was speaking at a seminar on “CPEC: A Win-Win Project” jointly organisedby Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Islamabad Institute ofConflict Resolution. The Chinese envoy said that CPEC was a win-win projectfor both Pakistan and China and it would further strengthen the bilateralrelations between both the countries.
He said China considered Pakistan most reliable friend and wanted to see iteconomically developed as a strong Pakistan was good for China and for theregion.
Jing said that amongst 6 corridors, CPEC was running smoothly and fast.
“China believes that CPEC would put Pakistan on the path ofindustrialisation, jobs creation and regional connectivity,” he said addingthat CPEC would also help Pakistan in overcoming energy problems andimproving its economic growth through the construction of roads andrailways network.
He said that China wants the private sector of Pakistan to capitalise onCPEC for growth and expansion.
He said that the business community of Pakistan should get benefits fromSpecial Economic Zones that are to be set-up under CPEC and developmutually beneficial JVS with their Chinese counterparts.
Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Amir Waheed, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce& Industry president appreciated the decision of the Chinese leadership tobring CPEC to Pakistan as it has started a new era of long-term businesspartnership between the two countries.
He hoped that CPEC would put Pakistan on the fast track ofindustrialisation and accelerate the pace of its economic development.Waheed stressed that CPEC should create opportunities for the growth of theindigenous industry and support in its modernisation. He assured that ICCIwould collaborate with the Chinese embassy to promote business partnershipsbetween the private sectors of both countries under CPEC.
Army Welfare Trust chief executive and member of the advisory board ofIslamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution, Maj Gen (r) Raza Muhammad saidthat the CPEC dialogue started back in the 1980s and now this project wasturned into a reality. He said that CPEC would revive the old silk route,develop strong connectivity between Kashgar and Gwadar, and would makeGwadar one of the biggest ports in the world. He urged that the governmentshould focus on making Pakistan’s youth multi-skilled so that they couldplay a useful role in the execution of CPEC.
China has shifted from a controlled economy to a market economy andPakistan has a good opportunity to learn from the Chinese experience to putits economy on the path of sustainable growth, he added.