Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government is not only giving top priority to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project but wants to further expand its scope so that other countries could also become part of the gigantic project and a new era of progress and prosperity starts in the region.
The prime minister stated this on Thursday while chairing a high-level meeting on his forthcoming visit to China to participate in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The meeting reviewed the preparations regarding promoting cooperation between the two countries in various fields during the forthcoming visit of the prime minister to China.
The prime minister said the CPEC project consisted of just few power plants and three corridors, while the present government got included agriculture, education, health, water projects, vocational education and skill development, transport, up-gradation of railways Main Line-1 and other important projects in the second phase of CPEC. He said the government will replicate the successful experiment of Chinese government of poverty alleviation where millions of people were lifted out of poverty. He said the government wants to learn from China’s skill in agriculture, industry and other fields.
The prime minister said keeping in view the commendable progress of China in science and technology, cooperation between the two countries in this field will be the main focus of the visit. He said efforts are going on to accelerate the process of getting scholarships for at least 20,000 Pakistani students so that they can study advanced subjects in China.
The prime minister said special attention is being given to cooperation between Pakistan and China in eight big sectors, including mining, high-speed railways, manufacturing and agriculture.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government accords top priority to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project as it will not only help in translating all-weather Pak-China relations into mutually beneficial economic equation but also open new vistas of opportunities for the entire region.
The prime minister met with representatives of 15 leading Chinese companies working on various CPEC and other projects in Pakistan. The Chinese delegation included representatives from Power China, Three Gorges Corporation, CMEC Neelum Jhelum Power Plant Project, Cr-Norinco Orange Line Project, Huawei, Zong, Port Qasim Power Plant, China Gezhouba Corporation, China State Construction, China Harbour, Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project, Haier and other companies. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing accompanied the delegation.
Talking to the Chinese delegation, the prime minister said the government will provide all possible facilitation to the Chinese companies in undertaking profitable business ventures and taking advantage of business friendly policies of the present government.
The Chinese ambassador, while conveying greetings from Chinese president and premier, said that Chinese leadership is looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China. He thanked the prime minister on behalf of Chinese leadership and business community for his personal interest in facilitating Chinese businessmen and addressing their issues. He assured the prime minister that Chinese companies will continue to partner with the government in socio-economic development of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan, during a briefing on Thursday, was informed that 11 integrated tourism zones will be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and replicating the model, eight zones will also be set up in Punjab.
