ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: China has urged the political parties to address their differences in order to create favourable conditions for the completion of $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
In a statement on Saturday, the Chinese Embassy spokesman said that his country hopes that congenial atmosphere would be created between the relevant parties in Pakistan for completion of the CPEC.
The spokesman said that that there is consensus between Pakistan and China about the mega project. He said that China is ready to cooperate closely with Pakistan for early implementation of the CPEC.
“We are ready to work with Pakistani, to actively promote construction of CPEC projects, and bring tangible benefits to the people of the two countries,” he said.
The CPEC project was signed when the Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a two-day official visit to Pakistan on April 20-21, 2015.
Under the project, Pakistan’s southern port city of Gwadar will be connected with China’s northwestern autonomous region of Xinjiang, via a network of highways, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas.
However, a few political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have raised their concerns and accused the federal government of making changes in the CPEC western route.
Meanwhile, talking to a private news channel, the Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that the government is ensuring conducive economic environment in the country which is vital for sustained foreign investment.
The minister said that all the reservations of Balochistan’s parliamentary parties regarding the western route of CPEC have been removed and the provincial government has also assured its full support for the completion of the project.
Ahsan Iqbal said that the government is determined to accomplish the project as it is a game changer for the country and the region.
