ISLAMABAD, 21 OCT (DNA) – President Mamnoon Hussain has said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would bring the countries of the region further closer to each other and new avenues of economic progress would open up which would benefit countries of South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East.
The President said this while talking to ambassadors from Central Asian States (CAS) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Wednesday.
The President stated that the people and the government of Pakistan desire to promote trade, cultural and people to people contacts with the countries of these regions adding that a comprehensive strategy has been prepared in this regard and practical measures are being taken in coordination with respective governments. He said that CPEC would expand economic cooperation amongst all the countries of the region and open up new vistas of prosperity and progress.
The President said that Pakistan is keen to promote peace in the region and making efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan and for this purpose it is cooperating with all the regional countries.
He stated that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and its armed forces are engaged in different areas of the country for complete elimination of terrorists through operation Zarb-e-Azb.
“This operation would continue till elimination of the last terrorist which would usher in peace not only in Pakistan and Afghanistan but also in the whole region”, said the President.
The President stressed that Pakistan is desirous of promoting relations with all countries of the region including India under the principle of peaceful co-existence and hopes that neighboring countries would reciprocate Pakistan’s gesture for peace and stability in the region.
Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Charge d’ Affaires of Uzbekistan participated in the meeting. On the occasion, the ambassadors while expressing their views, praised the role of Pakistan in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and hoped that CPEC would be beneficial for all countries of the region. =DNA