CPEC has transformed Pakistan’s socio economic landscape: China

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong on Monday said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had transformed Pakistan’s socio-economic landscape by overhauling its infrastructure and alleviating the energy crisis.

Termed Pakistan-China relations ‘rock-solid’, the envoy expressed his country’s sympathies to Pakistan in lieu of the ongoing flooding, saying China would not leave Pakistan in such testing times. Pakistan had always supported China in such situations, he added.

Addressing a seminar on the upcoming 20th National Peoples Congress (NPC) of the Communist Party of China under its flagship ‘Friends of Silk Road’ initiative, Nong Rong recalled how Pakistan donated all the available stock of tents to China in the 2008 earthquake.

Commenting on the NPC, he said it was the most important political agenda of the current year end.

The panelists, at the seminar organized by the Pakistan-China Institute, discussed the prospects of the 20th NPC of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which will be held later in 2022. This congress is held every five years, where China watchers look for clues to the country’s future.

President Xi Jinping is expected to be re-elected for his third term as Secretary General of the CPC and President of China. Moreover, the Party Congress will set key priorities for the next five years, in particular, as well as China’s two-stage development plan for the middle of the 21st century.

A special documentary titled ‘China’s Governance under President Xi Jinping in the New Era (2012-2022)’ was also screened, depicting China’s achievements. The content of the documentary reflected the on-ground realities in China and aspirations of the Chinese people who regard President Xi Jinping as the ‘core leader’ of the Communist Party of China, who, through his people-centered approach to governance and development has proven to be the worthy successor to Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping.

Pakistan-China Institute Executive Director Mustafa Hyder Sayed introduced the ‘Friends of Silk Road Initiative’ which has become the premier platform to understand China, and a bridge people-to-people connectivity between Pakistan and China, serving as a platform to gather political leaders, students, media professionals, and think tanks to brainstorm new ideas of thought which both countries can further cement their relationship in various fields.

Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Defence Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed thanked China for donating 25,000 tents and cash for the flood victims in Pakistan.

He said the core message emanating from President Xi Jinping’s leadership was the people-centric development and human security.

He said the Global Development Initiative (GDI), introduced by President Xi Jinping on September 21, 2021, promoted inclusive and open collaboration, and was a crucial platform for international cooperation and the public good that China offered.