Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, the CPEC is one of the most significant and transformative projects in modern history. Addressing an event in connection with launch of a report "The Economic Benefits of the Modern Silk Road: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," the foreign minister said the work on the new international airport in Gwadar will start very soon, adding that the special economic zones under the CPEC will be established across the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of China Yao Jing termed the CPEC a successful cooperation between two countries and highlighted the importance of research initiatives, which are helpful for further enhancing the capabilities of both governments. While talking about the SEZs, he mentioned that local manufacturers will be encouraged to produce goods which can be exported to China as well as other countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Pakistan-China Institute, Mushahid Hussain Sayed highlighted the importance of the report, saying that CPEC is now moving forward very successfully. He said that CPEC's benefits are going to be evident to the people of Pakistan in the years ahead. He also mentioned the 7th JCC of Pakistan and China where it was agreed upon that the content and vision of CPEC would be expanded and three more pillars, agriculture, poverty alleviation and people to people exchanges, would be added to the existing four pillars, which are energy, infrastructure, transport and railway, and Gwadar port. He further said that CPEC is the way forward for building a prosperous and a progressive Pakistan.
Later talking to reporters, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Thursday said that Pakistan welcomes Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer for peace dialogue with the Taliban and expressed Islamabad's readiness to extend a helping hand to Kabul in restoration of peace.
He said if asked, Pakistan would play its role as facilitator in the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan, adding that Afghan Taliban are a political entity and Pakistan supports the dialogue between the Afghan government and Taliban. He also emphasized that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict.
To a question about the US appeal to Pakistan and India to end hostility through dialogue, he said that the US might have an interest in Pakistan-India talks, but before that it should create some balance in its South Asia policy. He said that the US should review its South Asia and Afghan policy if it wants durable peace in the region.
He stated that Pakistan desires peace and stability in the neighbouring country, but it seems the neighbouring India is not ready for regional peace. He said that India on one hand has escalated tension along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, while on the other it has intensified atrocities in Occupied Kashmir.
To another question, he said that Pakistan will frame its foreign policy keeping in view the national interests. He also made it clear that Pakistan will not compromise on its national interests for the sake of the US interest.
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