CPEC most important project for Pak-China cooperation: FPCCI

ISLAMABAD: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has said that Pakistan and China are best friends, while Beijing has always unconditionally supported Pakistan.

China has played a vital role in the development of Pakistan and no compromise will be made on brotherly relations with China, it said.

FPCCI President Abdul Rauf Alam said the cordial ties between the two countries have reached new heights with the launch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as for the very first time, economic relations have gained more importance than the political ties.

Speaking to the 11th China-South Asia Business Forum, he said that friendship with China is the most precious asset, while CPEC is a game changer project, which cannot be compromised at any cost.

He said that the project would be completed well in time while it would be kept safe as COAS Gen. Raheel Sharif is taking personal interest in it.

Pakistan is providing enhanced security to Chinese nationals working for the $46-billion project as the country’s domestic and foreign nations are using “extreme means” to sabotage the ambitious project, he said.

Alam said that CEPC will push bilateral economic, political and cultural relations to new heights which will be beginning of a new era of prosperity which is not acceptable to some countries.

The economic corridor is the most important agreement in the history of Pakistan and China which will not only strengthen Pakistan’s economy bit it will also be an impregnable line of defence, he said.

The FPCCI president said that Chinese impressive progress has amazed whole world which proves that their economic model is one of the best and that now time has come that private sector of both countries use each other expertise to excel in various fields including energy, infrastructure, tourism and mining etc.

CPEC is the strongest pillar of economic, commercial and cultural connectivity between Pakistan and China and its regional impact will be very positive, he said, adding that the network of roads, railways and industrial parks will herald a new era of development and prosperity to benefit three billion people.

It will bring China's financial and industrial capacity and technological ability with Pakistan's plentiful resources, hard-working labour and market," he added.

He said that it is a matter of few years when China will become world’s greatest economic power which will also help Pakistan’s economy.

CPEC is a significant part of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative,” which is not only a domestic strategy of China to open up its central and western regions, but also a highly laudable regional and international development proposal, he observed.

China has assured Pakistan that any change in the international political scenario will not impact the CPEC plans which is very heartening, Alam said.