'China will continue to support connectivity projects'

Vice Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Kong Quan has said that China will continue to support the connectivity projects to strengthen Pakistan's industrial and manufacturing base. The Chinese delegation led by Kong Quan on Tuesday held interaction with members of Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs which met here with Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed at the Parliament House. The meeting was also attended by Ambassador of China to Pakistan Yao Jing as well as the Director General (China), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ayesha Ali.
Expressing resolve to continue stronger and deeper cooperation between the two countries, Kong Quan said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a successful story of a stronger cooperation between the two countries. He said that China will also make every effort to transfer technology to Pakistan to strengthen the manufacturing sector and help improve the local industry. He said that a stable Pakistan with successful CPEC is strength and stability of China. Kong Quan said that they feel at home on coming to Pakistan and the Chinese government and people as well as the Parliament strongly support the country in its efforts to protect its independence and build a strong economy relying on their talented manpower.
He said that China would continue to support the CPEC projects, strengthen cooperation with the youth as well as strengthen Pakistan's industrial and manufacturing base. He further said that the efforts would also be made to pass the fruit of CPEC to the common man in Pakistan. He also urged the need for parliamentary diplomacy between the parliamentarians of Pakistan and China. He further said that more practical steps need to be undertaken to further strengthen the Pakistan-China partnership.
Welcoming the Chinese delegation, Senator Mushahid Hussain said that Pakistan and China have a strategic relationship based on a track record of supporting each other on their respective core interests. He said that the CPEC is today the centerpiece of Pakistan-China friendship and he lauded the Belt and Road initiative of President Xi Jinping as the biggest diplomatic and developmental initiative of the 21st century. He said that a unique feature of Pakistan-China friendship is that all political forces, the government and the Parliament, the armed forces and civil society are united on this one issue that this relationship is the most vital component of Pakistan's foreign policy since it serves the national interests of Pakistan. He said the balance of economic and political power is shifting from the West to the East and China is a pillar of the Asian Century.
There was a very positive interactive discussion between the parliamentarians of both the sides who represented the media, diplomacy and the business sectors. Senator Sherry Rehman, Leader of Opposition in Senate, urged a greater role for youth in the CPEC and leveraging the relationship strategically. She said that Pakistani youth should be given more opportunities in the CPEC. She further said that the CPEC would prove to be a game changer for both the countries.
Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, who spoke of women's participation, said that the development projects initiated under the CPEC have brought a favorable environment in the country. Senator Mian Ateeq urged the need for closer business interaction between the two countries as well as the need for technology transfer to Pakistan to improve the local manufacturing sector.
Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar urged the need for youth of Balochistan to get dividends from the CPEC, adding that 99 percent of the people of the province support CPEC. Senator Rehman Malik talked of security and cooperation between Pakistan and China, adding that the enemy is targeting CPEC, Balochistan and security forces of the country. He also urged the Chinese side to increase issuing visas to Pakistanis.
Senator Sirajul Haq urged that the benefits of CPEC should reach the common man, adding that there is a need for small and medium enterprises to benefit from the connectivity projects. He also said that China being the rising power in the region should also come forward to take steps for the regional peace and stability.