KUNMING, China: Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has said the initiative of “One Belt-One Road,” aims to revive the Silk Road and bridge social, economic and cultural gaps within regions in an open and inclusive manner.
He was speaking at the China-South Asia Business Forum organized on the sidelines of the 4th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China from 12-17 June.
![Federal Minister for Commerce Engr.Khurram Dastgir Khan Engr. addressing the the China-South Asia Business Forum organized on the sidelines of the 4th China-South Asia Expo. While leading the Pakistan delegation at Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China on 12th June 2016.](http://www.dnd.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Minister-of-Commerce-Khurram-Dastgir-Khan.jpg)
Khurram said, the stage had been set for an unprecedented economic integration between China and South Asian countries in the days to come that would help fight poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and malnutrition.
The initiative will also help provide better health facilities and offer people of South Asia, better standard of life and economic opportunities.
The Minister of Commerce spoke in detail on the significance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a flagship project of the “One Belt One Road” initiative as it will combine China’s financial and industrial capacity and technological prowess with Pakistan’s plentiful resources, hard-working labour force and potential market.
He said the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attaches top priority and importance to CPEC and a viable mechanisms had been put in place for its timely completion.
He expressed the confidence that CPEC will serve as the strongest pillar of economic, commercial and cultural connectivity between the two countries and herald a new era of regional development and prosperity, benefitting billions of people in the process.