Zubair Qureshi
Charge d’ Affaires of China, Ms Pang Chunxue has attributed the success of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to its adherence to the principles of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI).
“The project exemplifies openness, inclusivity, and mutual benefits, garnering support from the people of both China and Pakistan,” said she while addressing the opening session of the two-day international conference titled “Decade of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) & Belt & Road Initiative (BRI): From Vision to Reality” Monday. The event was held to mark the 10- year celebrations of CPEC.
The moot was also addressed by Chief Economist of Pakistan, Dr Nadeem Javaid, Secretary Planning Ministry, Syed Zafar Ali Shah and Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed.
While highlighting the significance of the BRI on its 10th anniversary, Ms Pang lauded the positive contributions to economic development and poverty alleviation in numerous countries along the route.
The initiative has become a prominent international cooperation platform, generating substantial investments and creating job opportunities, she said adding, “Under their joint efforts and leadership, CPEC will be further enhanced to elevate all-around cooperation to new heights.”
She appreciated the government particularly, the Planning Ministry for the continuous support in the implementation of the CPEC projects. Reflecting on the decade of CPEC’s journey, Ms. Pang Chunxue praised the remarkable achievements made through the guidance of the leaders of both China and Pakistan. She recalled the historic visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in 2015 which accelerated the large-scale construction of CPEC.
She also highlighted the importance of industrial cooperation under CPEC, with the establishment of Special Economic Zones SPZs as a fast-track project. These zones aim to enhance industrial development, benefit local communities, and create numerous job opportunities, she remarked. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman HEC, Dr Mukhtar said several significant initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration between Pakistan and China in the field of higher education and research.
These initiatives include future Chinese scholarships and cooperation with the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Dr Nadeem Javaid in his inaugural session said the objective of the conference was to highlight the socio-economic impact of the CPEC and Opportunities for Industry Relocation, Prospect of Regional Connectivity and Technology Transfer, Enhance Cooperation for Security, Geopolitical Implications to overcome challenges and maximizing synergies in CPEC and BRI Initiatives, and People to People Connectivity. During the first day of session, four technical sessions were held which included Socio-Economic impacts of CPEC, prospects of regional connectivity through Gwadar port, opportunities for Industrial Relocation and export and Green Technologies and Development.
Secretary Planning Ministry, Syed Zafar Ali Shah hoped the conference would provide a platform to address concerns, evaluate risks, and explore avenues for mitigating any adverse impacts, ensuring that the benefits are equitably distributed among all stakeholders. The conference will conclude Tuesday (today) and Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal will be chief guest.
