ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a fate-changer and a game-changer, crucial for the alleviation of poverty in the region.

During a meeting with Chinese envoy Yao Jing, the PML-N president added that CPEC would play a key role in the economic revival of the post-pandemic world.

“Pakistan is fortunate to have such a sincere friend like China, which fought an exemplary battle against the new coronavirus and helped Pakistan as well. Pakistan and China are two reliable strategic cooperative partners, iron brothers and ambassadors of peace,” he said.

According to a PML-N statement, Mr Sharif was welcomed at the embassy by Mr Yao and other officials.

Mr Sharif said Chinese President Xi Jinping has played an exemplary role for regional peace. He also welcomed China’s farsighted policy cooperation for peace in Afghanistan.

Mr Yao said the PML-N worked with excellent pace and spirit on CPEC and development projects in Punjab during its tenure in government. He praised Mr Sharif’s services for CPEC and for strengthening ties and friendship between both countries.

He said CPEC is a nation-to-nation cooperation project between China and Pakistan and he appreciated the support of all the political parties of the country.

He added that the increasing liaison between the PML-N and the Communist Party of China was admirable.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2020