CPEC is symbol of prosperity, shared development for Pakistan: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not merely a collection of different projects but a symbol of prosperity and shared development.

In a Twitter message, PM Shehbaz Sharif said, “I was greatly delighted to receive Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and the members of his delegation who came to Pakistan to join us in celebrating the Decade of CPEC. As a special envoy of President Xi Jinping, he brought with him a message of abiding friendship with Pakistan and its people.”

READ: Pakistan, China vow to continue cooperation for CPEC

He added, “Over the last ten years, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had emerged as a bedrock of Pakistan’s socio-economic trajectory, helping to end crippling energy shortages, building high-quality infrastructure, and promoting connectivity and integration not only within the country’s various regions but also with the neighbouring countries.”

“For us, CPEC is not merely a collection of different projects but a symbol of prosperity and shared development. It is a reflection of our relentless fight against poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment,” said PM Sharif.

“While the first phase of CPEC was about fixing the ‘hardware’ side of development, the upcoming second phase will upgrade the ‘software’ of development by focusing on agriculture, science and technology, skill development, innovation, industrialization, economic growth, health and education.”

READ: Chinese Vice PM He Lifeng meets COAS Asim Munir

“On this occasion, I would like to pay rich tributes to President Xi Jinping, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for their pioneering role in conceiving and implementing CPEC as a flagship project of the Belt & Road Initiative. President Xi’s global leadership and vision of shared development is making a huge difference in the betterment of our world, especially the Global South, the premier said.

“As PM, I am happy to play my humble part in removing all the bottlenecks in the way of CPEC and putting it back on track. Together China and Pakistan will redefine not only the destiny of their people but also of the region.”

I was greatly delighted to receive Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and the members of his delegation who came to Pakistan to join us in celebrating the Decade of CPEC. As a special envoy of President Xi Jinping, he brought with him a message of abiding friendship with Pakistan and… pic.twitter.com/eyEgGQLD1q

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 31, 2023