KARACHI: No changes have been made in the western or any other alignment of the designated route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said President Mamnoon Hussain on Saturday.

Addressing the passing-out ceremony of the 53rd batch of cadets at the Pakistan Marine Academy, he said it was necessary for economic stability that all propaganda was rejected and joints efforts were made for the future of the country’s children.

He said CPEC would bring about a revolutionary economic change and prosperity to the country as it would provide landlocked countries of Central Asia with access to other regions.

Chandelier unveiled

At a separate ceremony, President Hussain unveiled a chandelier gifted by China for the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. On the occasion China’s ambassador, Sun Weidong, read out a message from China’s President Xi Jinping.

Mr Hussain said the Pak-China friendship and strategic partnership had been strengthening and moving forward in the interest of the two countries. “China’s friendship is a precious asset and the gift of a chandelier is a beautiful symbol of this close relationship,” he said.

In his message, the Chinese president expressed his delight over the completion of the China-aided chandelier project at Mazar-i-Quaid. He said a crystal chandelier, presented by the Chinese government 46 years ago as a gift to Pakistan, became an oft-quoted memory of friendly exchanges between China and Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2016