ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday said that Pakistan and China must not underestimate the threats to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC) from "the elements that oppose socio-economic development" of the region.

Talking to the Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong at Punjab House in Islamabad, the minister said that "some elements" opposing the project are not in favour of the region's prosperity.

They feel uncomfortable with the improving ties between the two countries and are especially opposed to Pakistan marching towards a new era of socio-economic prosperity, he said.

“These elements are also reluctant to acknowledge new realities where China has a much larger role to play in the region, being a major power and stakeholder of peace, prosperity and development of the region and an ally and time-tested friend of Pakistan.”

Nisar said that the government is firmly committed to early completion of the CPEC project "despite all challenges" in view of its importance as a "game changer" and its role in further deepening the strategic Pak-China equation.

Shedding light on mutual cooperation and various strands of strategic dialogue, the interior minister observed that the two countries "need to raise the level of talks", particularly in the areas of cooperation in security, intelligence sharing and forging greater association to fight terrorism in the region.

"The government would continue making every possible effort to ensure foolproof security of our Chinese friends while a special force to this effect is being raised on fast-track basis in this regard," Nisar said, referring to the security of the Chinese workers in Pakistan and the CPEC project.

The minister also put forth a suggestion that the two countries may work out a comprehensive and integrated mechanism and evolve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for ensuring security of the Chinese nationals.

“Under this SOP, Nadra would maintain the record of Chinese nationals residing and visiting Pakistan and would share this database with all federal and provincial authorities of the country,” he added.

The minister stressed the need to further strengthen the existing mechanisms for evolving common strategies and policies in view of shared geo-strategic interests and concerns of the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong handed over a letter of thanks from his government to the interior minister for ensuring safe recovery of the abducted Chinese citizen who was kidnapped in May 2014.

Read: Agencies rescue kidnapped Chinese tourist

Appreciating the vision of the Interior Minister, the ambassador reiterated that the Chinese government, its leadership and the people of China were committed to further strengthen their ties with the government and the people of Pakistan.