Chinese Consul General in Karachi Li Bijian said on Monday afternoon that the majority of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects had been completed.
During his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), the senior diplomat maintained that Pakistan-China ties were not limited to CPEC although it was playing a key role in regional development.
“The majority of CPEC projects have been completed, with Gwadar becoming the most important in the region. CPEC is an important part of Pakistan-China friendship, but the relationship between the two countries and with the business community is much deeper than that,” he contended.
The Chinese Consul General expressed concern over the situation of Pakistan’s low-income class and remarked that there was an effort to get Pakistan out of the economic difficulties.
KATI President Salman Aslam; senior vice president Maheen Salman; vice president Syed Farrukh Qandhari; former presidents Danish Khan, Farrukh Mazher, Johar Qandhari, Ehteshamuddin, Muslim Mohammadi, and other members were also present on the occasion.
KATI President Salman Aslam welcomed the Chinese Consul General and said that China is a brotherly country of Pakistan and relations between the two countries are very strong. “The CPEC projects are important for the economy of both countries,” he added.
The Chinese Consul General apprised the KATI officials that China had invested in various projects, including airport, training center, and Gwadar Port. He expressed happiness that the power crisis of Pakistan has been alleviated due to CPEC.
“The development work of Gwadar Airport is 90 percent completed andby 2023, Gwadar Airport will start its operations,” he informed.
Li Bijian underlined that a hospital is also being constructed in Gwadar and it is expected that it will also start functioning next year.
He highlighted that there were ample trade opportunities in China for Pakistani industrialists and investors.
“China has a population of 500 million middle class, which could be a big market for Pakistan. Pakistan can export fruits and vegetables to China, while China has a large seafood market, including rice and fish from which Pakistani exporters could take full advantage,” he noted.
In addition, cooperation between the two countries in the field of Information Technology and electric vehicles could be further enhanced, he elaborated.
The Consul General opined that the two countries could work out a strategy to increase Pakistan’s export volume through trade, urging Pakistani industrialists to take advantage of the free trade agreement between the two countries.
The KATI president said they would brief the Chinese Consulate on his proposals for increasing exports.
KATI’s former president Danish Khan stated that Chinese investors should set up industries in Pakistan and called for holding joint trade fairs with China to promote Pakistani products.
Farrukh Mazher, another former KATI President, stressed that every Pakistani considered the CPEC project important, and work on projects should not be slowed down.
“ML-1 (Main Line 1) is also included in the CPEC project on which work has not started yet. The inclusion of the Karachi Circular Railway in CPEC is also welcomed,” he mentioned.
