Pak-China trade corridor to benefit about 3 bln people in the region: PM ISLAMABAD, June 29 : Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that the envisaged Pak-China Trade Corridor would open vistas of development and prosperity to about 3 billion people inhabiting this region. During his interaction with the visiting Chinese media delegation, the Prime Minister said that both the countries enjoyed deep ties in all fields and spheres. “We will pursue cooperation in all spheres of national activity; we have cooperation in the strategic and economic fields and of course, there is great potential. Pakistan and China have to extend this economic cooperation and collaboration into the Central Asia countries and into the SAARC countries, of course with the SAARC, where Pakistan is also a member,” he opined. The Prime Minister said “I think there is cooperation of 3 billion people of the region and they would benefit from such cooperation and I think, this the big, huge population in this region which is going to benefit from this cooperation.” Terming this cooperation as ‘game changer’ for the whole region, the Prime Minister further said that it would bring in economic development and prosperity to the region. About handing over of the Gwadar port to China, the Prime Minister shared that they viewed it as the significant economic hub and important port in the Arabian Sea which of course would be beneficial for China as well as for Pakistan, ‘I’m talking of Pak China interests’. He said that during his forthcoming visit to China, he would be discussing all these initiatives with the Chinese leadership so that the steps could be materialized. He said that a high level team headed by a federal minister Ahsan Iqbal with the secretary Economic Affairs Division has just returned from China after holding positive talks with their counterparts. There was good news for both the countries as both sides were keen on accomplishing such projects, he said, adding, “Pakistan has to come out of its difficulties and we want to cooperate with each other on a number of fields of energy, infrastructure and in the field of energy, we have talks with the Chinese companies and I have invited them to Pakistan to work in this sector and take up projects based upon coal to produce power, setting up solar based houses to generate power.” To another query, the Prime Minister said that they would like to build motorways and happy to report that the Chinese companies were keen in these projects. During his upcoming visit to China, he would be discussing the setting up high speed trains and said “I think if all these things are materialized, trade volumes in the economic cooperation will cross over hundreds of billions of dollars, so this is the time for both countries to move forward at faster pace so that we can harness the potential which exists between the both countries.” Dilating on the Pak-China trade corridor, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that ‘special economic zones’ would be established where the Pakistani and Chinese businessmen would invest together or in their individual capacity. To a query regarding the expectations attached with his upcoming visit to China, the Prime Minister said that the relationship between both countries was handed down from one generation to another and had started many years back. “We have excellent relationship and whosoever is in the government, whosoever comes and goes, that does not make any difference. The relationship and friendship keep moving on and strengthening,” he said, emphasizing that both the countries had done many projects together and had excellent partnership in business, trade and industries and declared that many more would follow in the future. Underlining the importance of the cooperation in different fields from infrastructure to industry including textile and engineering, he said that Pakistani and Chinese businessmen were interested to invest. Responding to a question, the Prime Minister maintained that they would have soon a fast paced train with 250kg per hour capacity to run from Karachi to Peshawar on the same pattern as being moved from Beijing to Shanghai in China. Reiterating the Government of Pakistan’s clear stance on the drone attacks, the Prime Minister said “I think which is of course, creating ill will in Pakistan and it is true that international laws are very clear on that. Drones are certainly violating our airspace and challenging our sovereignty.” He said that the people in the country had protested against such attacks and the government had taken up the issue with the Americans and protested strongly against such attacks. Terming such attacks as counter-productive, the Prime Minister said that his government was taking up the issue seriously with the US. About the tragic incident of Chinese mountaineering team members’ death, the Prime Minister said “Let me express my deep condolences on the tragic death of Chinese and other tourists. I feel very sorry for the people who lost lives and my heart goes out to all bereaved families.” The Prime Minister said in categorical terms that it was an unforgettable incident and they would make every effort so that such situation should not occur in future. About Pakistan’s losses during the five-seven years violence, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan had paid a heavy price so far as the loss of lives was concerned; as far as terrorism was concerned; as more than forty thousand people of this country had lost lives, including the personnel of armed forces, police, administration and general people. “I am talking about the lives lost during 5-7 years, Pakistan’s economy suffered a lot, our growth has suffered a lot, I think, it is to the tune of more than 100 billion dollars had been lost because of it,” he lamented. Dealing with the issue on priority basis, the Prime Minister declared that it would be the priority of his government to tackle it on war footings as it was doing with the issue of load shedding and promised to improve the conditions of economy and law and order by eliminating violence from Pakistan completely. The Prime Minister said that in the coming months, they would witness a change and assured to provide security to the Chinese working in Pakistan. About a question posed to him by the Chinese media personnel in Urdu language requesting the Prime Minister to respond in the same language, he said that youth in both the countries were vital for the development of their respective countries. He said that youth in any country had the role of a back bone and if properly harnessed, their potential could be materialized adequately. The Prime Minister said that his government would implement a single word of its elections manifesto and told that the youth in Pakistan would be encouraged through proper training, facilities and bank loans to play their due role in the prosperity of the country. The Prime Minister also advised the Chinese media men to rebuff any kind of false accusations and negative propaganda against the interests of both countries and focus upon their shared goals and objectives.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 13:10:14 +0000
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