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A special ceremony was held here on July 31 to celebrate the completion of the first decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
High-level leadership attended the event from Pakistan and China, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative, and the Vice Premier of the State Council of China He Lifeng.
Senior ministers of China and Pakistan, high-ranking officials from both countries and corporate executives of leading Chinese companies working in Pakistan also participated in the event.
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vice Premier He Lifeng paid rich tribute to CPEC for its positive contribution to Pakistan’s social and economic development, and progress and prosperity of the peoples of the two countries.
They underscored that as the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative(BRI), CPEC had transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape by removing infrastructure bottlenecks and eliminating power shortages.
Expressing satisfaction at the remarkable achievements of CPEC, both leaders expressed their firm resolve to build upon the achievements of the last decade, and continue their cooperation for further developing it as a high-quality demonstrable project of the BRI.
The leadership of Pakistan and China also appreciated the endeavors of Pakistani and Chinese experts, engineers and workers for their meritorious contribution to the timely completion of all CPEC projects in Pakistan.
On the occasion, Vice Premier He Lifeng also read a special message of President Xi Jinping, congratulating the government and the people of Pakistan on the completion of the first decade of CPEC.
To mark the significance of the occasion, a special Postal Stamp, Commemorative Coin and First Day Cover, were also issued. Both sides also unveiled a First Decade of CPEC Memento capturing its achievements made and futuristic vision.
During the event, special performances were organized to display multiple facets of Pakistan’s pluralistic and progressive culture, and to highlight civilizational affinity and fraternal ties between Pakistan and China.
It may be recalled that Pakistan and China had kicked off CPEC projects in 2013, after the visit of the Chinese Premier to Pakistan. Under the rubric of CPEC, the two countries initiated and completed multiple projects in the past ten years in the energy sector, transport infrastructure, port and airport development and digital connectivity.
CPEC brought huge dividends to Pakistan as manifested in the creation of over 200,000 jobs, addition of 8000 MW power to the national grid, building of 510 kilometers of highways and 932 kilometers of roads network, and laying of 820-kilometer long optical fiber line.
Under Phase-II of CPEC, both countries have expanded cooperation to new areas, including rural revitalization, agricultural development, industrialization, green development, and science and technology.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that Pakistan and China are all weather friends and iron brothers adding that he will not tolerate any obstacles in its way.
He expressed the view while addressing a ceremony where he along with visiting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng witnessed signing of agreements and MOUs for promotion of bilateral cooperation.
“The documents signed today are aimed at further strengthening economic relations between the two countries,” he said.
Under the CPEC, more than $25 billion worth of investment has taken place in Pakistan’s power and Hyde sector, road infrastructure and public transport.
He said the CPEC was enter the second phase, which will envisage investments in sectors such as agriculture and information technology.
He said Pakistan was ready to contribute towards Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of shared destiny of progress and prosperity. He said both ML-1 and Karachi circular railway projects were of immense importance, expressing the confidence that both the sides will successfully achieve these and many other projects. He was confident that this will help Pakistan stand on its own feet.
He also vowed to emulate the Chinese model of development to achieve peace and prosperity in the country.
Pakistan and China have signed six agreements and MOUs for promotion of bilateral cooperation. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission of People’s Republic of China signed the document on the joint cooperation committee of CPEC. The second document signed by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission of People’s Republic of China was related to the establishment of an experts exchange mechanism within the frame-work of CPEC.
The third document was signed by the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security Zafar Hassan and the Chinese Charge D’Affaires Pang Chunxue for the export of dried Chillies from Pakistan to China.
Member Planning of National Highway Authority Asim Amin and Chinese Charge D’Affaires Pang Chunxue signed the fourth document on the realignment of Karakoram Highway Phase II project feasibility study.
The two sides also signed through diplomatic channels the MOU on Industrial Workers’ Exchange Program. The two sides agreed to promote the strategic ML-1 project.
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz shared a tweet to welcome the Chinese Vice Premier and members of his delegation to Pakistan.
“It is my pleasure to warmly welcome the Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and members of his delegation to Pakistan,” he wrote.
“They are visiting Pakistan to join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of CPEC and witnessing first-hand the transformations brought about by this game-changing initiative,” Mr Sharif added.
Source: The Daily Mail, Pakistan
