BEIJING: Pakistan and China are resolved to start from this year implementation of various projects of Early Harvest Programme, envisioned under Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC).
In this regard the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) is expected to meet in Beijing next month.
The all important meeting will discuss the feasibility reports, financing and other related aspects and will give final touches and accord priorities to launch various projects.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof. Ahsan Iqbal is due here in February after Chinese New Lunar Year holidays to lead Pakistani side in JCC meeting, Ambassador Masood Khalid informed mediapersons on Wednesday.
The JCC will also discuss swift implementation of short, medium and long term projects stretched over 2030 under mega PCEC.
Earlier, the first meeting of the joint working group on planning of the Pakistan China economic corridor had concluded last Friday in which a threadbare discussion took place on proposed projects to be included in the PCEC.
The working group will submit its recommendations to JCC for consideration.
The Pakistani side was led by Rizwan Bashir Khan, Senior Economist at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform. The officials from Railways, Water and Power Ministry, Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) and Chairman Gawadar Port Authority also participated in these meetings.
The Chinese side was represented by Ma Xin, the Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
The PCEC will not only be beneficial for both countries but also for the region, said Ambassador Masood Khalid adding that it will also usher in an era of prosperity and progress in the region.
Meanwhile, the month of January saw hectic activities in terms of holding a number of high level meetings as 2014 is packed with Pakistan-China bilateral activities.
The new leadership who came at the helm of affairs in 2013 in Pakistan and China have committed to work together in all dimensions to further deepen political, economic, defence, culture and people-to-people contacts.
The government, led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has accorded top priority to address the chronic energy crisis, and took a number of swift initiatives to cope with the situation with the support of Chinese leadership.
To start with energy related activities in 2014, Beijing, early January hosted the ministerial level 3-day, 3rd Joint Energy Working Group (JEWG) moot in tandem with first Pak-China Energy Working Group meeting under PCEC that took important decisions. Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif led Pakistani side.
A number of leading Chinese power companies and corporations have evinced keen interest to explore energy market of Pakistan, which is rich of natural resources particularly in hydal, coal, wind, solar, beside biogas and biomass, said the Ambassador.
The Ambassador, referring to certain inspired reports and stories which recently appeared in media regarding Chin's investments in Pakistan, said these were incorrect and misleading.
He said that to give further impetus to People-to-People contacts a number of activities on both sides have been chalked out for 2014.
A high-level delegation from ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) will visit Pakistan soon, while a Pakistan Senate delegation led by Chairman Senate will visit China. A 100-member Pakistan Youth delegation will also pay a visit to China this year.
"The traditional high-level political interaction will be maintained so as to further strengthen and consolidate Pakistan-China Friendship", remarked Ambassador Masood Khalid.
He said that the prestigious Tsinghua University has launched Pak-China Information Corridor to apprise the Chinese people of enormous economic, political and market potential in Pakistan.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of sister cities of Shanghai and Karachi, said Ambassador Masood Khalid adding that in this regard, the Sindh Government and Shanghai Municipal Government were planning various activities.
Pakistan and China are also working on a plan to celebrate the year 2015 as the Year of Friendly Exchanges in a befitting way, he said.
He said the Embassy of Pakistan on its own, was planning to organize a number of cultural activities such as the holding of an art exhibition, literary festival, food and costume show this year.
Comments
Comments are closed.