Pakistan, China to counter propaganda against CPEC

Senator Mushahid Hussain says project became a success story in a span of five years

BEIJING: The media persons, lawmakers, academics and intellectuals from China and Pakistan Friday called for joint efforts to highlight cooperation between the all-weather friends and counter negative propaganda against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

The multi-billion dollar flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative launched by China would remain a distant reality unless concreted steps are taken to project its true perspective.

This was the overall impression exuded by the Chinese and Pakistani speakers at the day-long CPEC Media Forum organised by China Economic Net and Pakistan-China Institute.

In his opening remarks, Pakistan China Institute and Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said the CPEC has become a success story within a period of five years.   He said the work is progressing well on the building of Gwadar Port, Thar Coal Power and Mining Project and other infrastructure development projects and asked the media to focus the development process and counter negative propaganda being generated by vested interests.



He said the two all-weather friends are linked through rivers and mountains and both countries will overcome all the difficulties and ensure better tomorrow of the two people.

In his keynote speech, Senator Pervaiz Rashid observed that Chinese investment under CPEC was a remarkable initiative and said the flagship project would revive old Silk Road. Both the countries share a common history and are working jointly to safeguard and enhance common interests, he added.

He said CPEC had entered a new phase of industrialisation and media cooperation had to play a vital role to quell disinformation in the current circumstances. He pointed out that both the countries have ensured fair allocations of funds for the different projects in all parts of the country and proposed to set up a joint forum of experts to hinder the propaganda against the CPEC as well as the deep-rooted friendship between two countries.



In his remarks, Ambassador of Pakistan, Masood Khalid appreciated the forum for serving as a platform for Pakistani and Chinese scholars and journalists to exchange views on media collaboration and enhancing people to people contacts.

He said the CPEC had elevated the already close friendship between Pakistan and China to "All-Weather Strategic Co-operative Partnership". The ambassador said in the changing media environment, the media of both countries need to work proactively to give a positive projection by showing stories of human interest.

He also termed the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China as a beacon of a new era of friendship between the two countries.

Executive Secretary, All-China Journalists Association, Wang Dongmei called for a dialogue between media of two countries to enhance cooperation and counter negative campaign against the CPEC. She said the forum has provided a platform to get together and discuss ways and means to take friendship between the all-weather friends to new heights. APP