China, Pakistan resolute in pushing forward CPEC construction, says Zhao Lijian
BEIJING, Dec 28 – China Monday shrugged away media claims suggesting that Beijing wanted additional guarantees from Pakistan government for releasing additional funds for Main Line-I (ML-I) Railway rehabilitation project.
Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a media briefing that certain media reports as ‘simply baseless’.
China and Pakistan are resolute in pushing forward the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the prospects of the CPEC are bright, he said when asked about certain India media reports claiming that China will gradually end its financial support of Pakistan pledged under the CPEC.
“Such reports are groundless,” said Zhao, adding that as an important pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the CPEC has maintained positive development momentum since 2013.
He remarked that after COVID-19 broke out, the projects under this corridor showed no withdrawal of staff and there were no jobs cut and no halt in construction.
Zhao Lijian said that the batch of major projects were completed, handed over or became operational, offering a strong support to Pakistan in its fight against COVID-19 and economic recovery, adding, “My colleagues have talked about this as well.”
He informed that last Friday, the CPEC International Coordination Cooperation Working Group’s second meeting was held in Xinjiang.
During the meeting, Zhao Lijian said, “the two sides reiterated their consensus to implement our leaders’ agreement and make sure the corridor will focus more on industry, agriculture, science and technology and livelihood besides focusing more on underdeveloped region. So, it will become high quality demonstration project under the BRI.”
He said that other Working Group meetings will be held to prepare for the joint cooperation working meeting.
The spokesperson said that China and Pakistan were firmly resolved to advance progress under CPEC which had bright prospect.
He stressed that against the global economic recession, China’s input in the BRI including CPEC had not reduced but rather increased against the odds.
“Over the first three quarters, China’s direct financial investment in BRI countries increased by around 30%, offering China’s support to many BRI partner countries in their effort to fight the epidemic and recover their economy,” he concluded.
