CPEC a project of hope: Chinese minister

Chinese communist party leader says 100 countries, organisations cooperating on ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative

ISLAMABAD: China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a project of hope and sharing which would tremendously benefit Pakistan and China as well as all the regional countries, Communist Party of China’s International Department Vice-Minister Zheng Xiaosong said Tuesday.

Xiaosong, who is heading a high-level delegation of CPC to Pakistan, made these remarks during a lecture which among others was attended by civil officials, retired military officers, academicians, media persons and representatives from civil society

Zheng said CPEC would China’s economic development while cushion Pakistan to become Asian Tiger in the years to come. He said the CEC projects would help enhance economic development in the region, adding that as many as 100 countries and organisations had been cooperating to the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative which, he said, was a symbol of China-Pakistan friendship.

Zheng, while talking about the Chinese economy, said due to the reformation and revolutionary policies, the Chinese government drove out as many as 700 million people out of poverty and aimed at pulling out the remaining 50 million poor people by 2020.

He said China’s focus was not merely on growth and had been working for promoting sustainable growth. “Quality and efficiency of growth is our focus,” he said, adding that the country had developed a concept which advocated that growth would not be at the cost of environment, promoted openness to develop relationship with rest of the world and ensured that dividends of growth were shared.

He said a growth rate of 6.7 per cent had been witnessed during the current year so far, adding that it would remain round about 6.5 per cent during next five years. He said the economic development of China would not only benefit the country itself but would promote growth in Asia as well.

Talking about the political relations, he said CPC had developed relations with 600 political parties across the world including Pakistan. He said the CPC had promoted zero tolerance to the corruption culture and punished 200 senior party leaders and 1.1 million party workers for their involvement.

“No matter who you are and how high you are in rank, you will be punished for involvement in corruption,” Zheng said. “The party has devised guidelines regarding what you can do and what not and there is redline which cannot be crossed.”

Speaking on the occasion, Senate Deputy Chairman Ghafoor Haideri expressed the resolve that China Pakistan Economic Corridor would be made successful despite the challenges. He said the country had to face many challenges after the agreement with China however the designs of enemies to make the project failure would be frustrated.

Earlier, Mushahid Hussain Sayed said the Communist Party of China was a symbol of unity, stability and prosperity which had driven out millions of its people out of poverty. Minister for Ports and Shipping Hasil Bizenjo and others were also present on the occasion.