CPEC is a blessing for Pakistan : PM Imran Khan

Lahore : Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being a flagship project of the
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was a blessing for Pakistan.

“CPEC has given us an opportunity to catch up with other nations and
attract investment from China and other countries,” he said while
addressing the participants of a reception, hosted in his honour by
China International Cultural Communication Center here.

The prime minister said China was the fastest growing economy in the
world and obviously, China was the main home from where the government
was expecting investors.

He, however, said because of CPEC, other countries were now looking to
invest in Pakistan.

He said in the beginning, the CPEC was just a road and a couple of
power stations for energy, but now CPEC has gone far ahead.

The prime minister mentioned the diversified cooperation between
Pakistan and China and said Pakistan was seeking cooperation in
agriculture, science and technology, artificial intelligence and
poverty alleviation.

The way China took over 700 million people out of poverty during the
last 30 years had impressed the people in Pakistan, he added.

He said his government was looking forward to Chinese investment in
special economic zones, which were in the process of being set up in
Pakistan.

“These special economic zones are the part of CPEC and we are hoping
the investment from China and relocation of Chinese industries in
these special economic zones,” he added.

He pointed out that labor cost in Pakistan was low as compared to
China and Pakistan would really benefit from relocation of certain
industries which would help increase exports and achieve economic
prosperity.

Pakistan, he said, was focusing to establish peace and stability in
the region and hoping for a political solution of Afghanistan through
dialogues between the relevant parties.

He said peace and stability in Afghanistan was in the best interest of
Pakistan as whatever happens in Afghanistan it affects Pakistan border
areas.

About relations with Iran, he said, “We have a decent relationship
with Iran and we are trying to strengthen it.”

He hoped that after the general election in India, the two countries
would resume dialogue.

He said the region could not achieve economic prosperity without peace
and stability.

The prime minister said the relationship between Pakistan and China
had always got stronger as both the countries stood by each other in
difficult times.

“China has always been our time-testing friend because of that there
was a strong relationship between the people of Pakistan and China,”
he maintained.

Earlier, China Pakistan Friendship Association Chairman Sha Zu Kang
welcomed the prime minister and his delegation for their visit to
China and expressed the confidence that the relationship between the
two countries would further grow in future.