BEIJING: A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign affairs ministry said on Friday that her country stood ready to work with Pakistan to take forward the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to benefit the people of both countries.

“The CPEC is a new cooperation framework set up by China and Pakistan to pursue long-term development. It is also an important project of the Belt and Road Initiative,” spokesperson Hua Chunying said during her regular press briefing.

She said it was important not only in promoting common development for China and Pakistan but also regional connectivity and prosperity of regional countries.

In advancing the CPEC, both Pakistan and China had adhered to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, she said.

The spokesperson said the dividends and benefits brought by the CPEC would be shared by people in China and Pakistan and in the region.

Replying to a question, she rejected apprehensions that once the CPEC trade routes officially opened, Pakistan would be flooded with cheap Chinese products, which would make it hard for local companies to survive.

At the invitation of the Pakistani military, honour guards of the three services of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army had sent a formation to march in the military parade marking Pakistan Day, she said. “China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and the Chinese and the Pakistani military maintain traditional friendship,” she added.

The spokesperson that that in 2015 Pakistan sent a formation to take part in China’s military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Joining the Pakistani side in its military parade this time was another vivid testament to the epitome of the high-level strategic mutual trust and friendly relations between the two countries and their militaries, she added.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2017