BEIJING: A media delegation hailing from Balochistan province, presently on an official visit to China, met with Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque, at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday.
During the visit, Ambassador Haque briefed the delegation regarding the state of bilateral relations between Pakistan and China, with a special focus on the current status of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He emphasized that CPEC stands as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and symbolizes the robust ties between Islamabad and Beijing.
In the upcoming phase of CPEC, the emphasis will be on fostering collaboration in the fields of science and technology, agriculture, and social sector development, Ambassador Haque elaborated.
He underscored that Pakistan and China share a steadfast friendship and are strategic cooperative partners, consistently supporting each other during challenging times. Ambassador Haque lauded China’s substantial assistance to Pakistan in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, including the provision of vaccines, medical equipment, and medical teams.
Furthermore, he mentioned that when Pakistan faced devastating floods last year, China extended its support by dispatching relief supplies to aid the flood-affected population.
Gwadar Port’s Key Role in CPEC
Ambassador Haque highlighted China’s significant focus on the Balochistan province in CPEC and its initiation of several development projects, notably in Gwadar. He elucidated that Gwadar Port, the Special Economic Zone, and Gwadar International Airport hold pivotal roles in the province’s and the country’s development. He expressed his confidence that Gwadar possesses the potential to evolve into a regional hub for business and trade, significantly contributing to the local economy and creating employment and business opportunities for the residents.
Members of the media delegation commended China for its contributions to the development of Gwadar and the Balochistan province. They acknowledged that projects such as Gwadar Port, hospitals, schools, and roads have substantially enhanced regional connectivity and generated employment opportunities for local communities.
The delegation expressed its willingness to play a positive role in strengthening ties between the people of Balochistan and China, further fostering the deep-rooted relations between Pakistan and China.
