ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of China Jiang Zaidong on Wednesday decried deliberate disinformation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC.

Speaking at the 8th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum hosted by Pakistan-China Institute, the envoy reaffirmed China’s unwavering commitment to supporting Pakistan in safeguarding its core interests.

Amb. Zaidong shared his experience inaugurating a desalination plant in Gwadar, underscoring China’s dedication to local development.

He also recalled the signing of agreement between Pakistan and China’s XPCC for development of agriculture sector.

Pakistan’s ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi echoed Pakistan’s commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC. He emphasized readiness to strengthen cooperation with China, highlighting enduring diplomatic and economic ties, particularly in people-to-people connectivity.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, lauded the Belt & Road Initiative as the paramount developmental and diplomatic initiative of the 21st century. He drew attention to China’s substantial investment exceeding $1 trillion across 3000 BRI projects globally, expressing optimism about the future of CPEC, especially focusing on Gwadar Port development, ML1 Railway project, and the revival of Special Economic Zones.

Murtaza Solangi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, acknowledged the transformative impact of CPEC and urged objective media reporting to counter propaganda and ensure accurate information dissemination.

Mustafa Hyder Sayed launched the ‘CPEC Media Forum Balochistan Initiative,’ presenting a joint statement expressing satisfaction over a decade of collaborative efforts in advancing CPEC. The forum highlighted achievements in energy, infrastructure, and socio-economic development, emphasizing the need to combat misinformation and pursue inclusive and transparent development.

During the forum, Senator Mushahid Hussain unveiled the report titled “Perception of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan,” revealing that 93.5% of Pakistanis had a positive view of CPEC.

The report emphasized factual information to provide insights into the perspectives of the Pakistani population regarding CPEC.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2023