QUETTA: The Communist Party’s Secretary for Xinjiang, Zhang Chunxian, has said that China is interested in making investment in Gwadar and that joint ventures will bring an economic revolution to the region.

He was talking to officials during his daylong visit to Gwadar on Monday.

Mr Zhang is accompanied by a 70-member delegation, comprising Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, the vice governor of Xinjiang, Mayor of Karamay Schen Xinfa and heads of various investment and business companies.

Mr Zhang was received at the Gwadar Airport by Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai. Secretary for Ports and Shipping Khalid Pervez, Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani and Chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority Mir Dostain Khan Jamaldani were present.

Mr Zhang, who is also member of the Politburo of the Communist Party, said Pakistan and China enjoyed cordial relations and implementation of their joint ventures would bring an economic revolution.

“Gwadar will be the future economic hub of Pakistan and an icon of development and prosperity in the region,” he said, adding that China would accord priority to the development of social sector in Gwadar and provide adequate facilities in health, education and other sectors for local population.

“Gwadar port is an important project and it will change the direction of entire trade of the world to this region,” he said.

Mr Jamaldani, while briefing the delegation, said that Gwadar Port’s free trade zone display centre and its business complex would comprise the Seaman Centre, bank branches, commercial and business complexes, customs clearing offices and other office buildings. He said construction of projects was scheduled to begin in May.

The Chinese delegation also visited the desalination plant of Gwadar Port.

Later, the head of the delegation handed over the keys of an ambulance to Babu Gulab, the chairman of the Gwadar District Council. The ambulance has been donated to the health department.

The head of the delegation announced that the Chinese government would provide higher education scholarships to 20 students from Gwadar and uniforms for local students.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2016