BEIJING (Dunya News) - Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar says the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project which is boosting economic and trade relations between the two countries.
Presiding over an interactive roundtable meeting on CPEC in Beijing, the PM shared that Pakistan’s vision of CPEC was rooted in its desire for regional connectivity and sustainable development. He also outlined the critical role of CPEC in upgrading the socioeconomic landscape of Pakistan over the last 10 years.
Academics, scholars and researchers from notable Chinese think tanks and academic institutions attended the roundtable meeting.
Emphasising the importance of CPEC, PM Kakar said it was an important pillar in the strategic cooperative partnership based on mutual understanding and respect.
Mentioning the accomplishments of CPEC over the last 10 years, the PM highlighted the importance of reflecting on the journey thus far, identifying the successes, reviewing the lessons learnt, and charting out a map for the next phase of high-quality development of the project.
The PM said the two sides had agreed to convert CPEC into a corridor of growth, livelihood, innovation, openness and green development.
Extension of CPEC to Afghanistan would strengthen development in the region, the premier said, adding that Pakistan and China were desirous of converting Gwadar into a centre of regional connectivity.
The PM said that due to the CPEC, Pakistan had constructed a network of 800km new roads and highways. Besides, as many as 200,000 jobs were created coupled with adding 8,000MW electricity to the national grid, he added.
In their remarks, Chinese academics and scholars underscored the importance and significance of CPEC as a great partnership between Pakistan and China.
They also reaffirmed the continued interest of Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones and to contribute to the further growth of CPEC, enhanced regional connectivity and sustainable development.
At the roundtable, the participants agreed that through collective efforts of the two nations, CPEC can become a pivot for regional trade and connectivity and a bridge for people-to-people contacts.