ISLAMABAD, 29 AUG (DNA) – Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Sun Weidong said Monday that with strong political ties as the guarantee and deep friendship as the support, China-Pakistan cooperation would embrace a better future for the benefits of the peoples of the region.

“As a Chinese saying goes, a big tree grows from a downy tip. The promotion of CPEC today will help sow the seeds of hope for the grand forest of China-Pakistan friendship tomorrow,” he said while addressing inaugural session of CPEC Summit and Expo held here.

Terming the CPEC an unprecedented undertaking in the history of China-Pakistan relations, he said, the completion of the mega project required pioneering spirit, courage for struggle and perseverance.

He said, the fundamental purpose of CPEC was to achieve a win-win cooperation, adding, “We should hold the common development as our maximum common interests and build more momentum for the promotion of community of shared destiny of our two countries.”

He shared with the audience that he had personally visited many CPEC projects such as Port Qasim Coal-powered Plant and Gwadar projects. “The Chinese enterprises are advancing the projects with high quality and standard,” he added.

Sun Weidong said, the Chinese engineers were working with high professionalism, great tenacity and sincere devotion. “This is our commitment to the Pakistani friends. We sincerely hope to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pakistan and are ready to work with you to achieve the dream of national development and people’s well-being.”

He said, China was making its own contribution to the development of the world and added China founded the Silk Road Fund and advocated the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

“China supports the Belt and Road Initiative and construction of transport infrastructure, so as to promote regional connectivity and economic development,” he added. He informed that the ground-breaking ceremonies were successfully held for Karot Hydropower project which was the first Silk road Fund financed project and M4 (Shorkot-Khanewal Section) national motorway project which was the AIIB funded project.

These project would surely help Pakistan promote the development of energy and transportation infrastructure, he added. He said, right now, CPEC had entered into full implementation and was making smooth progress in general.

The CPEC covered such wide-ranging areas as energy, roads, railways, ports, optic fiber, oil and gas pipelines and industrial parks, among others. Sun Weidong said, CPEC was a broad framework of cooperation and is facing Pakistan as a whole.

The Chinese government encouraged qualified and competent enterprises to make investment in Pakistan and explore opportunities of industrial cooperation, technology and development etc.

He said CPEC was also about project of livelihood. It was aimed to bring tangible benefits to the people and give the people more sense of ownership. The projects under construction had created tens of thousands of job opportunities for Pakistani people.

With the further advance of CPEC, it will continue to create more job and training opportunities and provide better health and education services for Pakistani people, he said.

“We shall promote the two wheel of construction and safety of CPEC simultaneously and strive to build a Safe Corridor,” he added. While appreciating Pakistan’s efforts to protect the CPEC projects and personnel, he said, “We look forward to creating a safe and sound environment for CPEC along with the Pakistan side.”

The Chinese Ambassador said, this year marked the 65th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties. “During the past 65 years, we have always adhered to equality, mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual support. Our friendship has withstood the test of time and become good example of South-South cooperation.”

Sun Weidong said, China-Pakistan relations had now entered into the new stage of grand development and are faced with historic opportunities. “We are confident about the bright future of China-Pakistan relations,” he added. He said, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.

“It provides the important network and platform of win-win cooperation among the countries along the Belt and Road regions.” The Chinese Ambassador said, it was the best reflection of the Silk Road Spirit featuring peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and shared prosperity.

“China is ready to share its development opportunities and dividends with all the countries along Belt and road regions and would like to invite all the countries to board the fast train of China’s development,” he added.

Terming CPEC a major and pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said, both sides were stick to the principles of being voluntary, equality, mutual benefit as well as mutual consultation, co-construction and sharing.

The progress of CPEC had played a leading and demonstrating role in the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative and reflected the Silk Road Spirit. DNA