ISLAMABAD: Acting President Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani said on Tuesday highlighted the need for a joint strategy to counter a narrative against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and China-Pakistan relations.

Mr Sanjrani, who is also the Senate chairman, was speaking to a Chinese parliamentary delegation at the President House. The delegation was led by the vice chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Kong Quan.

He said Pakistan wants peace in the region and would continue to support efforts aimed at regional and global peace and stability.

He said the One Belt One Road initiative and vision of shared prosperity would make Asia the epicentre of socioeconomic power.

However, he said, the West is not comfortable with these developments, as a shift in power to the east would place Asia at the centre stage of global politics, spearheaded by China.

He said the relationship between China and Pakistan had stood against all odds and ups and downs.

“This uniqueness makes it a corner stone of our foreign policy and we, as a nation, take pride in our friendship with China” he added.

He said the historic relationship has entered a strategic, cooperative partnership that would prove to be an anchor for regional peace and stability.

He expressed satisfaction with the progression of CPEC and said the project enjoys an across the board consensus on all of Pakistan’s political fronts.

He added that Pakistan is facing unemployment, a shortfall of electricity and an economic crunch due to low industrial growth, and CPEC would be a ray of hope for both countries.

Mr Sanjrai also appreciated that the CPEC energy and infrastructure projects are being completed and implemented within the stipulated period.

He hoped for progress on the Gwadar project, including the Gwadar international airport, and that social welfare projects with active Chinese assistance would be accelerated.

He said special economic zones (SEZ) needed special attention from the Chinese leadership because they would play a crucial role in taking CPEC to the next level, and called for robust participation by state-owned Chinese enterprises and the private sector in SEZs.

The acting president called on leaders of the Pakistani business community and trade delegates to participate in an international trade exhibition in China this November.

The head of the Chinese delegation, agreeing with Mr Sanjrani, assured that steps would be taken to further improve trade between both countries.

Mr Sanjrani said: “I am looking forward to my visit to China in July 2018 and hope that my upcoming visit to China will further strengthen the existing bilateral parliamentary relations.”

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018