Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai said that his country will provide all possible support to Pakistan ensuring success of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“We attach high importance to CPEC since it is a pilot project of China’s initiative of One belt One Road,” he said adding that this connectivity plan is aimed at bringing peace and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole. Pakistan, he said, is their best friend and they wished to take their decades’ old relationship to a new height through frequent socio-economic interaction and people-to-people contacts.
“The Chinese government is encouraging its business community to make maximum investment in Pakistan for the success of CPEC,” Li Huilai said, and added that this in an informal chat with a media delegation consisting of over 30 representatives from 18 member states, observer states and dialogue partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The visit was arranged on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of SCO.
The minister expressed his confidence that the concept of One Belt and One Road will not only raise the living standards of the people of both sides but will also positively affect the entire region. Replying to a question, he said that CPEC is the best example of growing Sino-Pak relationship.
Earlier, at the formal news briefing, Li Huilai said that Pakistan’s entry into SCO will enhance the organization’s status and influence to effectively address security issues, and give a boost to socio-economic partnerships among the member countries.
Welcoming Pakistan, which is set to become a full-member of the SCO, he said that it would be an important development in addressing issues of common interest in the future. Pakistan is an important country of the region and its role towards security and counter-terrorism is highly positive, he added.
The minister said that China has been supporting the expansion of the organization and attached high importance to Pakistan’s role as its full member. Pakistan will be joining the organization at a time when the organization celebrates its 15th anniversary.
He hoped that the SCO’s Summit, which is going to take place in Tashkent on June 23 and 24 will be a landmark event for making the organization more strong and effective, particularly to deal with the security issues. The Summit, he said would adopt a common strategy on counter-terrorism. China is willing to work with the member states to promote peace and development in the region, he further said.
Li Huilai elaborated China’s contribution and support to SCO and said it was done for a win-win situation and mutual benefit. He said that they laid special focus on upholding the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ that aimed at achieving common prosperity and promoting socio-economic collaboration and cultural exchanges.
China being the founding member of the SCO, the minister said, is always committed to promoting better regional connectivity and economic development which could ensure better living conditions of the people.
The concept of the organization is to further promote economy of member states and enhance cooperation among them in all fields of common interest. China, being the second largest economy of the world, has the maximum foreign reserves which have been a source of better life not only in the Chinese cities but also for the people of relevant countries as a whole, he added.
