CPEC to benefit entire region, Pakistan tells UN

NEW YORK: Pakistan has told the United Nations that the flagship, multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is an “exceptional example” of South-South cooperation that is aimed at achieving shared economic and development goals. 

“CPEC’s scale and scope is enormous, and it is expected to bring huge economic and developmental benefits not just to China and Pakistan, but also to our region and beyond,” Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said in a speech to the General Assembly’s Second Committee, which deals with economic and financial matters.

Speaking in a debate on Operational Activities for Development and South-South Cooperation, she said Pakistan has always attached great importance to collaboration between developing countries which is vital to bolster their productive capacities.
While South-South cooperation is important, it’s no substitution for North-South cooperation, the Pakistani envoy said.

Pakistan, she said, had been providing training, technical support and other resources to many developing countries.

Ambassador Lodhi said that next year’s Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation in Argentina will be an opportunity to evaluate the impact of the cooperation on development around the world.

In her remarks, Ambassador Lodhi also highlighted concerns with operational activities, emphasizing that the United Nations development system should remain focused on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals is critical, while upholding the principle of national ownership and leadership over the entire developmental process,” she added.

Furthermore, the Pakistani envoy said, there were no one-size-fits-all solutions, which must be tailor-made to individual countries, development priorities and long-term needs, with geographical balance and hiring of qualified nationals of the country concerned.