Beijing: China highly appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks on the ‘high-speed’ construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said that it was ready to work with Pakistan to continue to further advance the high-quality development of the CPEC.
Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s on Wednesday held a press conference in which he lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s resolve to speed up the construction of the CPEC.
Zhao Lijian, when he was asked to comment on newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to speed up the construction of the CPEC, responded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s comments were highly commendable.
“[We have] noted the remarks of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and expressed our high appreciation,” Zhao said in response to the question.
Underlying the significance of the CPEC to Pakistan’s economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood, Zhao said that CPEC had made an important contribution since its launching in 2015.
“Since its launch, CPEC has made [an] important contribution to Pakistan’s economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood, and won broad appreciation and recognition,” Zhao added to his response.
Zhao also expressed China’s commitment to continue to work with Pakistan to further advance the high-quality development of CPEC.
“China is ready to work with Pakistan to continue to further advance the high-quality development of CPEC and build it into a demonstration program of high-quality development under the Belt and Road Initiative,” Zhao said concluding his remarks.
Chinese Charge Charge d’ Affaires calls on PM Shehbaz and conveys felicitations
On Tuesday, the Charge d’ Affaires of the People’s Republic of China, Ms Pang Chunxue, had called on newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House and convey felicitations on the election of Shehbaz Sharif as the new prime minister of Pakistan.
https://twitter.com/PMO_PK/status/1513901908729032705?s=20&t=cdsVoJr22aqTJLOs2mP5bg
During the meeting, the Charge d’ Affaires emphasized that the Prime Minister was viewed as a strong and committed friend of China and enjoyed great respect and admiration in China. She also lauded the Prime Minister’s contribution to promoting the China-Pakistan Economic Cooperation (CPEC) during the years that he was Chief Minister of the Punjab province.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated the CPEC’s continued progress as the flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its importance for the economic development and prosperity of Pakistan. He affirmed his government’s resolve to speed up to high-quality development of CPEC projects and make it a symbol of China-Pakistan friendship and close partnership.
