ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Senator Mushahid Hussain on Saturday said Pakistan had now become the hub of regional connectivity, connecting China, South and Central Asia after China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
While speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of outgoing Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong and his wife Madame Bao Jiqing, Senator Mushahid Hussain termed the ‘one belt, one road’ initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping as the ‘most important development and diplomatic initiative of the 21st Century’.
Mushahid Hussain said unlike the divisive policies pursued by the West after 9/11, ‘one belt, one road’ initiative presented an alternative vision and policy that was inclusive, promoting progress and prosperity via connectivity through ports & pipelines, roads and railways, energy and economy.
The Chairman Parliamentary Committee on CPEC also said during tenure of outgoing Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong, Pakistan-China relation did achieve new heights with CPEC as the focus. He also termed Madame Bao Jiqing as the ‘Co-Ambassador’ since she played a proactive role in people to people cultural exchanges.
Referring to his over 70 visits to China in the last 40 years, Senator Mushahid Hussain referred to his having witnessed the transformation of China from the days of Chairman Mao, through the period of reform and opening up under Deng Xiaoping to China under President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese ambassador thanked Senator Mushahid Hussain, and termed him as an ‘old friend of China’ recalling Senator Mushahid’s 1972 visit to China as a young teenager.
The envoy said CPEC was ‘progressing fast according to schedule’, and its results were evident in helping to resolve Pakistan’s energy crisis, the operationalizing of the Gwadar Port, the completion of power projects, Pakistan’s enhanced growth rate of 5.3 percent, the 19 percent increase in visas to Pakistani visitors this year and 22000 Pakistani students studying in China including 5000 on scholarships.
Sun Weidong recalled that his father Sun Jungqiang served in Pakistan as a diplomat at the Chinese Embassy during 1952-58, so it was befitting he was also carrying on his father’s legacy of promoting Pakistan-China relations.
The dinner was attended by parliamentarians, public figures, and leaders of Chinese companies including teachers of the Confucius Institute.
