KARACHI: China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong has said that Beijing will continue to advance the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and to make a greater contribution to Pakistan’s national development.

According to a press release, he said this during a visit to the University of Karachi, where he met Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and Pakistani Director of the Confucius Institute Dr Muhammad Nasiruddin Khan, on Friday.

Talking about Confucius Institute, he said: “We should learn and appreciate each other’s precious civilisation and to further enhance the people-to-people exchanges. We know that language is what takes civilisation to spread as it is the bridge between different civilisations.”

He shared that the cooperation between China and Pakistan, especially in the education sector, had been very successful. “We are thinking to provide more scholarships to Pakistani students.”

About CPEC, he said: “Leaders of our two countries have reached a consensus on building up an upgraded version of the CPEC.”

He said that the CPEC construction required support from the government, military, and all sectors of society. “We are fully confident that we can overcome the difficulties and build the CPEC well.”

Earlier, the KU vice chancellor spoke about the university and other important issues.

KCFR event

The Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) hosted a significant event featuring the People’s Republic of China’s ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong.

According to a press release, the ambassador delivered an insightful talk on “How the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee Will Benefit Pakistan and Sino-Pak Relations”.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Jiang emphasised how decisions made at the plenary session will open new avenues for bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure development, technology, and security.

He also highlighted the importance of continuing mutual efforts for regional stability and growth.

The session allowed for meaningful engagement, with participants discussing future strategies to strengthen ties, particularly through the CPEC and other collaborative projects.

Earlier, KCFR chairperson Nadira Panjwani underscored the importance of maintaining a strong and enduring relationship with China.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2024