ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassa­dor Sun Weidong on Wednesday underscored the importance of Pakistan’s role in promoting China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative as he sought to dispel ‘myths’ about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

“China and Pakistan can play a major role in promoting the Belt and Road initiative as all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Among the countries along the Belt and Road initiative, CPEC is one of the earliest, fastest and most effective project,” Ambassador Sun said while delivering a lecture on the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative jointly organised by the Chinese embassy and the Pakistan-China Institute.

The lecture was held in connection with the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation being held in China from May 14-15. Top leaders from 28 countries, including Pakistan, and representatives from 110 countries and 61 international organisations will take part in the forum. UN Secretary General António Guterres would also attend the forum.

The ambassador said that One Belt, One Road concept was based on traditional Chinese culture whose core values were peace, development and harmony.

He expressed satisfaction over the pace of projects under construction under the CPEC, noting that 19 early-harvest projects were under smooth construction with a total contract amount of $18.5 billion.

Mr Sun said China’s projects under the CPEC would not create environmental problems for Pakistan, adding that Beijing would not transfer outdated capacity production here. Besides, he said, the CPEC would not increase the financial burden on Pakistan.

He said China would not pursue unilateral trade surplus with Pakistan and would welcome export of Pakistani products to China and would provide facilitation in this regard.

The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the CPEC, Senator Mushahid Hussain, said Pakistan-China ties had seen quantitative expansion.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2017

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Time to deliver
Updated 11 Nov, 2024

Time to deliver

Pakistan must display a serious commitment to climate change adaptation and mitigation at home.
Smaller government
11 Nov, 2024

Smaller government

THE IMF bailout programme has put the government under pressure to curtail its spending, especially current...
Unsafe inheritance
11 Nov, 2024

Unsafe inheritance

DESPITE regulations, the troubling practice of robbing women of their rightful inheritance — the culprits are ...
Quetta bombing
Updated 10 Nov, 2024

Quetta bombing

THERE appears to be no end to the stream of violent incidents occurring in Balochistan, indicating a clear failure ...
Burdened courts
10 Nov, 2024

Burdened courts

ACCORDING to recent reports, the new chief justice has set about implementing a recently adopted plan for clearing...
Playing in Pakistan
10 Nov, 2024

Playing in Pakistan

MOHSIN Naqvi, Pakistan’s cricket chief, has shown a brave face. Now he has to be unrelenting and put the onus on...