BEIJING: Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives held an exclusive session with the heads and representatives of leading Chinese Think Tanks, emphasizing the importance of the Pakistan-China relationship and reaffirming Pakistan’s time-tested and timeless all- weather strategic cooperative partnership with China.
The Minister reiterated that as a flagship of BRI, CPEC had strategic significance for both China and Pakistan and has delivered tangible benefits to the people of the two countries. He noted that CPEC early-harvest projects had transformed the economic landscape of Pakistan, thus laying a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth. The Minister emphasized that Pakistan and China should continue to expedite efforts to achieve Gwadar’s potential as a regional commerce and industry hub while prioritizing work on ML-1 and other key energy projects.
Ahsan Iqbal praises China’s positive role
He praised China for its positive and key role in assisting in the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This will provide a significant boost to regional peace and trade. The Ukraine war has demonstrated that conflicts shock the entire world. Pakistan has witnessed too many conflicts, so its values China’s role in promoting global peace and stability. According to Ahsan Iqbal, CPEC has made Pakistan China’s largest investment and trade partner in the last ten years. Both sides are eager to maintain the momentum of overall economic and trade ties in the future.
The next phase of CPEC will focus on industrial cooperation and business-to-business connections.
The Minister appreciated Chinese companies’ interest in investing in Pakistan, highlighting the two countries’ deepening economic and trade ties. He sought suggestions and ideas from Chinese think tanks on creating a conducive environment for Chinese investment in Pakistan’s export-oriented industries and developing Pakistani SEZs and industries on the Chinese model. He emphasized the importance of learning from China’s experience with export sector development, as the fast and rapid growth of exports is a long-term solution to Pakistan’s economic crisis.
He emphasized the importance of joint research projects for Pakistani and Chinese business people by both countries’ think tanks to identify opportunities for cooperation and close knowledge gaps. He stated that 2023 is the year of CPEC’s decade and that a Chinese scholars’ delegation will be invited to Pakistan to observe CPEC’s progress. The think tanks praised the Minister’s viewpoints and shared their ideas for establishing a Pakistan-China Community with a shared future in the New Era. — APP
