Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday said the regional connectivity and economic integration were the key pillars of Pakistan''s foreign policy and playing a role of gateway to the Central Asia. Addressing the two-day Global Sustainable Transport Conference, he said in the emerging global and regional environment, Pakistan was happy to play its role as gateway to the Central Asia.
The prime minister said the peaceful neighbourhood has remained the norm of Pakistan`s foreign policy and no development policies could yield fruit without peace and security. He said that Pakistan was fully committed to its responsibilities as a partner in regional and economic integration. With projects like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Pakistan has enhanced its geo-strategic location into a geo-economic advantage, he added.
The prime minister said the CPEC was a package of multiple infrastructure and development projects and would boost connectivity within the region and integrate China, Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. He said 21st Century was the century of connectivity and without adequate internal and regional communication networks, countries would lag behind in progress.
Nawaz Sharif said that with mutual understanding and collective endeavours, we would be able to deliver on the promise of peace, prosperity and development of their peoples. He announced Pakistan''s joining of Ashgabat Agreement and Lapis Lazuli Corridor. He hoped that the agreement would prove milestone in achieving the dream of peaceful co-existence through integration of economies, markets and cultures in South Asia, Central Asia and beyond.
Addressing the conference, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said the modern transport was helpful in stabilising global relations at regional and national levels. He said Turkmenistan was pursuing effective policy for developing the transport system and has presented two drafts in the General Assembly.