Staff Reporter Beijing
A Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson has said that power projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) did not incur debt burden on the Pakistani side because they were investment projects.
“I can say this with good authority that these energy projects are commercial investment where Chinese companies invested in Pakistan.
They do not incur debt burdens on the Pakistani side because they are investment projects,” Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing in response to a question that Pakistan had requested China to reschedule their debts to the tune of around a US$22 billion in power projects which China has funded.
“We have responded to similar questions many occasions. I don’t know how you got your specific figure,” he questioned.
The spokesperson said that for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, there were many power and energy cooperation projects and added, “I think perhaps you are referring to loans on the energy projects. Right?”.
Zhao Lijian informed that he had worked in Pakistan for many years and he was very familiar with the energy projects and the CPEC. So, these loans are from Chinese companies.
The Pakistani government doesn’t need to pay back anything,” he added.
The spokesperson remarked that the construction and operation of the energy projects under the CPEC are going on very well, providing steady and affordable power source and adding tax revenues and producing very tangible, economic and social benefits.
“We have every confidence that China-Pakistan energy cooperation will continue to make greater contribution to Pakistan’s national development and livelihood improvement,” he added.
