Islamabad, 08 July 2023
Pakistan recently marked 'Decade of CPEC' and a cake cutting ceremony was held in Islamabad, Capital of Pakistan. Present on the occasion were Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif; Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Planning and in charge of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC); Pang Chun Xue, Charge d' Affaires of China; and dignitaries.
People of Pakistan are witnessed to the remarkable achievements and fruits of high-quality development stimulated by CPEC since its inauguration in 2013. Under the first phase of CPEC, China invested around US$ 25.4 billion in Pakistan, primarily in energy and transport infrastructure sectors. CPEC projects have added: 8000 MWs of energy to the national grid; 510 km of highways; 932 km of road networks; and 820 km of Optical Fiber Line. It has also created about 200,000 jobs in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in his address said that Pakistan-China friendship is deep-rooted and eternal. This friendship is rooted in the hearts of people of the two countries. The all-weather close relationship has stood the test of time.
He paid his gratitude to Chinese President, Xi Jinping and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang for their continued support to Pakistan. He assured to implement China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with ‘Pakistan speed’ and take it forward to new heights.
Chinese President Xi Jinping in his message on the occasion said that friendship between China and Pakistan is based on trust and mutual support, and we have been devoted friends through both good and hard times. Our friendship is a pacesetter for amicable relations between countries.
He stressed on strengthening mutual assistance and deepen strategic cooperation. 'We should keep the good tradition of frequent high-level visits and meetings, work together on major strategic issues, and support each other on issues involving our respective core interests and major concerns, he said.
Second, we should advance our shared interests and achieve common development. We should use China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to drive our practical cooperation with focus on Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure development and industrial cooperation so that the fruits of its development will reach both all the people in Pakistan and the people of other countries in our region.
Third, we should enhance close exchanges to build lasting friendship. This year is the Year of China-Pakistan Friendly Exchanges. We should conduct diverse and colorful events of celebration and encourage more contacts and exchanges between young Chinese and Pakistanis. In the next five years, China will provide 2,000 training opportunities for Pakistan and train 1,000 Chinese language teachers for Pakistan.
Fourth, we should stick together in face of difficulty and jointly meet security challenges. China will work with Pakistan to tackle non-traditional security threats so as to provide a reliable security guarantee for bilateral economic cooperation and common development. The Chinese nation loves peace. China will continue to pursue win-win cooperation and enhance friendship and cooperation with other countries. It will stay committed to the policy of affinity, sincerity, mutual-benefit and inclusiveness. It will deepen win-win cooperation with its neighbors so as to deliver more benefits to them through its own development. China will continue to pursue a win-win strategy for opening-up to build an open economy. This will create new development opportunities and space to both Asia and the world. We will strengthen cooperation with countries along the land and maritime Silk Roads, so as to jointly build an open platform for cooperation and create new impetus to achieve sustainable development in the related regions.
In his closing remarks, President Xi said that to build a China-Pakistan community of shared destiny is a strategic decision made by our two governments and peoples. Let us work together to create an even brighter future for China and Pakistan
Pakistan's Planning Minister and In-charge Minister Of CPEC, Ahsan Iqbal recounted the inception of CPEC through the signing of a historic memorandum of understanding in Beijing, which symbolized a dream and a vision to elevate the political and economic cooperation between China and Pakistan.
He emphasized the synergistic convergence of President Xi's Belt and Road Initiative and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's vision to transform Pakistan into an Asian tiger by 2025. This collective vision aimed to shift the nation's focus from geopolitics to geo-economics, harnessing Pakistan's strategic location as a crossroads between South Asia, Central Asia, China, and the Middle East. The goal was to establish Pakistan as a regional hub for trade, commerce, manufacturing, and agriculture.
He joyfully shared that a portfolio of approximately twenty-nine billion dollars had been established through cooperation with China in various sectors across Pakistan. Many of these projects have reached completion or are in the final stages. The minister emphasized the importance of the long-term plan of CPEC, which aims to further promote industrial cooperation and contribute to the bright future of Pakistan.
Ahsan Iqbal lauded the swift completion of delayed projects within one year under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's leadership. Notably, he highlighted the resolution of unrest in Gwadar by addressing issues of electricity and water. Through the construction of dams and desalination plants, Gwadar is now self-sufficient in water for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the transmission of electricity projects, as well as the connection of Gwadar with Iran and national-grade projects, were successfully completed within a year. The minister emphasized that such accomplishments demonstrated the previous neglect of CPEC and the urgent need for attention.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal regretfully acknowledged the adverse impact of the environment surrounding CPEC, which led to a decline in Chinese investments and the departure of potential investors. However, he expressed optimism regarding recent efforts to restore confidence among Chinese companies and address economic challenges faced by these enterprises. The minister recognized China's unwavering support during Pakistan's economic crisis, highlighting the exceptional relationship between the two countries.
He reaffirmed that CPEC stands as a game-changer project in the region, poised to revolutionize various sectors, create new opportunities for Pakistani youth, and solidify Pakistan's place on the global stage.
Ahsan Iqbal expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders, highlighting the significance of sustained efforts to uphold the vision and potential of CPEC. He reaffirmed the commitment to ensure its continued progress and success in the coming years.
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