In an interview with China.org.cn today, Pakistan’s ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque said that China and Pakistan are ‘all-weather’ friends and have stood the test of time. He said that the two countries have stood by each other during testing times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ambassador said that when the coronavirus initially hit China, Pakistan had provided it with support and much-needed supplies. He also mentioned how the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi had visited China in March to show solidarity with the Chinese people.
Read more: How Punjab is gearing up for CPEC Phase-II, Mian Aslam Iqbal explains
“By the time COVID-19 started spreading in Pakistan, China came to help us in a big way,” said the ambassador. “We are grateful to China for providing critical support to Pakistan in these difficult times.”
Haque mentioned the collaboration between China and Pakistan on the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Phase-3 trials of the vaccine were being held in Pakistan, he said.
CPEC has attracted Chinese and other foreign investors
On CPEC he said that the project had attracted much attention from potential investors within and outside the two countries.
The ambassador called CPEC a flagship project of the bigger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and a ‘strong pillar’ of China-Pakistan relations.
“It is a mega project of infrastructure development, energy, transport, and telecommunication,” explained Haque. “In Phase 2, we are going to focus on the areas of agriculture, industry, IT, science and technology, and tourism. Special focus would be on socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation.”
Read more: Allama Iqbal Industrial City: Pakistan’s First CPEC Special Economic Zone
The ambassador explained that nine new Special Economic Zoes (SEZs) were being developed as part of the CPEC, in order to attract investors from China and elsewhere.
According to the ambassador, nine Special Economic Zones are being established under the CPEC, where enterprises from China and other countries can set up business and manufacturing facilities.
سی پیک پر 10 ویں جے سی سی کی تیاریوں کا جائزہ،بزنس ٹو بزنس روابط مزید فروغ دیے جائیں گے۔#CPEC #BRI @zlj517 @CathayPak @WangXianfeng8 @AsimSBajwa @PakAmbChina @zhang_heqing @Asad_Umar @PlanComPakistan https://t.co/9iMiqE23vx
— CPEC Official (@CPEC_Official) October 16, 2020
This new important dimension of industrial cooperation under the CPEC will greatly help businesspeople and investors from both countries, the ambassador said.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The ambassador said that Pakistan and China have always supported conducting international relations based on the U.N. Charter, and standing against unilateralism.
The ambassador explained: “The COVID-19 crisis with its global spread and impact has once again highlighted the importance of collective efforts and approach. No country alone can address critical challenges like health, pandemics, climate change and poverty. The international community has to work together for the sake of the collective good of humanity.”
GVS News Desk