Tazeen Akhtar + Zakiya Rasheed
Ambassador of China Mr. Yao Jing has said that PM Imran Khan is visiting China in connection with Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation from 25 to 27 April. We have high expectations attached to PM Imran’s visit. Leaders from 40 countries and delegations from 150 countries will participate in this forum. We have agreements with more than 116 countries of the world but Pakistan is different and Pakistan is important for China. New Ideas will be shared and we can get better results in the future in economic cooperation. It has become a large World Forum. Pakistan is different and important for China. Both countries will increase cooperation and areas of cooperation. We have a shared future. 
Ambassador said this while addressing a large number of press and media persons who were invited to Embassy of China for a briefing on the forum and current status of bilateral relations on April 22, 2019.
Ambassador said this while addressing a large number of press and media persons who were invited to Embassy of China for a briefing on the forum and current status of bilateral relations on April 22, 2019.Mr. Yao Jing said that we have offered our 90% market for Pakistani exports. In return we ask for 65% Pakistani market for Chinese products. We understand that a developed neighbor is in the interest of a developed China.
We appreciate PM Imran’s vision of Naya Pakistan for which he has some priorities. We honor his priorities and we will continue to work together towards a better future for the people of both countries.
China understands the difficult financial position of Pakistan and we are sure that sooner Pakistan will overcome this situation. China will not create any problem for Pakistan.
China has so far invested 19 Billion Dollars in CPEC in which 12 Billions are private investments and 6 Billions are soft loans from the Government of China. Pakistan has to return only 250 to 300 Million in next 7 years.
Recalling PM Imran’s last visit to China in Nov 2018, Ambassador said that both countries agreed that CPEC is mutually beneficial project. Trade cooperation is important and China considers Pakistan a major trade partner.
Ambassador said that the second area of cooperation is Industrial. Both countries signed an MoU last year to increase the cooperation. SEZ at Rashkai KPK is the example where work is on and 20 Chinese factories are starting operations with local partners. If this model succeeds, the same will be implemented in Faisalabad. He said that SEZ for high tech in Islamabad is also under consideration.Four auto mobile companies have agreed to start work in Lahore and Karachi.
Social sector has also been identified and worked upon to enhance the level of cooperation in education, health,agriculture, irrigation and poverty alleviation. PM Imran Khan’s has already presented his vision on social sector empowerment. We have chalked out 6 Action Plans in this sphere. The action plans projects are between G-to-G cooperation of 6 Billion Dollars. 3 Model Villages will be established in Pakistan where Chinese experts will educate the locals about economic empowerment.
NAVTEC of Pakistan will provide manpower that is expert to work on CPEC projects. We have signed an agreement in this regard. It will generate more employment opportunities for Pakistani labor. 27 short and long term projects will be completed in social sector. We have fixed two years maximum time for these projects.
Main Railway Line will also be upgraded. We have prepared the technical plan for first phase.
During Q-n-A session, responding to a question on Sri Lanka blasts on Easter, Ambassador expressed condolences and grief over the loss of innocent lives and said that terrorism is a common challenge and it can be eradicated by common efforts.
To a question on Ormara shooting down of security personnel last week and later FM Shah Mahmood’s statement that the terrorists came from Iran, Ambassador replied that PM Imran Khan is visiting Iran and both countries can better look into how the security can be assured.
Regarding Indian objections on CPEC, Ambassador replying to another question said that CPEC is purely commercial project meant for the prosperity of the public of the region. It is not about politics. Indian concept is different. China is working to bring change in this concept. We welcome all countries to this initiative for a better neighborhood. We will wait if a country is not ready for the time being until it decides to reconsider the policy.
Ambassador, answering to a question about Afghan Crisis, said that I served two years in Afghanistan. At that time both countries agreed to enhance the regional connectivity. For that China was to upgrade the infrastructure, construction of railway line , highways and optical fiber. But for all that , peace and stability is required.
To a question by Editor Tazeen Akhtar about next to Gawader is Middle East and further attached is North Africa. Both regions are in a very difficult state of affairs because of disputes and wars. In North Africa Sudan underwent a coup recently while in Libya a military group has attacked on their own capital Tripoli. China has a role to play in these regions for peace or not?
Ambassador replied that both regions are very important. Our foreign policy stands on the principle of not interfering into host countries’ internal affairs. At the same time we think that peace and stability is the only way forward to alleviate poverty and bring prosperity. The disputes should be solved peacefully as there is no military solution to any dispute.
Ambassador in this regard referred to Pakistan’s role in normalization in Middle East in the past. He said that PM Imran is in Iran. Pakistan has always played a positive role in maintaining peace in the Middle East and Pakistan is our main partner.
Ambassador of China honored Pakistani Engineers and workers who performed well at CPEC projects with awards and shields after the press briefing.
