Islamabad

Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong on Friday said that his country was closely working with Pakistan to implement economic corridor project that will bring socio-economic benefits to the people across the board.

Highlighting the significance of this gigantic project at a booking launching ceremony held here, he said it was a unique project in Pakistan-China relationship that is meant to improve the living conditions of the people. The CPEC is a huge project and it will be a source of rapid development in all regions of Pakistan. The function was arranged by the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) for introduction of the book ‘China’s Stories, China’s Success- How China transformed itslef in the past 40 Years’ written by S.M.Hali. Those who also spoke on the occasion included Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Masood Khan, Director General, ISSI. Ahsan Iqbal Minister of Planning, National Reforms and Development was the chief guest on the occasion.

The ambassador said that the Chinese leadership was actively engaged in providing a better living to their people. China will focus on its main target which is the economic development of the country as this will not only bring welfare to the people of China but will also be a conduit for world peace and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

The Ambassador acknowledged that poverty alleviation is a difficult and huge task for the Chinese government, which is determined to address it with full resolve. China is a peace-loving country, but it is capable of defending itself against any outside aggression. The ambassador appreciated the book’s writer for introducing modern China in a very impressive way.

Ahsan Iqbal termed the CPEC a game-changer project and said the credit went to the leadership of both countries who in a short span of time have transformed a mere an idea into a huge project worth $46 billion. All the reservations on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project have been removed by the government and now there is a complete consensus and unity among all the political parties and their leadership on the CPEC. Pakhtunkhwa had also expressed their complete confidence over the project of national importance, he added.

This project of national importance signed in 2013 had been materialized within two years with the efforts of leadership."Within two years, the US$ 46 billion investment from the Chinese government is reflective of time-tested friendship," he added.

The Minister said: "We are ahead of time frame given for the implementation of the project.” Chief Ministers of Balochistan and Khyber are fully supporting the project.

Ahsan Iqbal further said Pakistan has been put on the path of economic progress and prosperity. He expressed the confidence that Pakistan will become top 10 economies of the world as indicated in `Vision 2025'.

Senator, Mushahid Hussain Syed hoped that the CPEC, a game changer project would lead to economic stability in the country. The project would unite the federation of Pakistan through progress and prosperity in various fields of economic and social development.

The CPEC would connect around 65 countries and Gwadar and ensure economic revolution in the region. About the depth of their bilateral relationship, he said the two countries had supported each others in very difficult time, he added.