'China fully agrees with President Alvi's assessment on CPEC'

President Dr Arif Alvi has made a positive assessment on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) cooperation which has advanced despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the "Chinese side fully agrees with him".

“The Chinese side fully agrees with the positive assessment made by President Dr Arif Alvi on the CPEC cooperation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday during his regular briefing in response to a question about the president’s recent interview to the Chinese media.

He said that CPEC had been developing with a positive momentum since its inception in 2013, as a pioneer project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “As we have talked about it before, China and Pakistan have been working together to fight the pandemic and despite the challenges posed by pandemic, all the CPEC projects have been effectively moved ahead."

He remarked that cooperation between the two countries had provided an important support to the Pakistan’s efforts to fight the pandemic and stabilise its economy.

The spokesperson said that functioning of power transmission line from Mitiari to Lahore will help enhance power supply network in Pakistan.

About Lahore Metro Orange Line, he said that with the launch of this mega transport project, Pakistan has entered in the era of subway.

While commenting on Gwadar port, an important component of CPEC, he said the port processed 26,000 tonnes of fertiliser for Afghanistan in two batches this month only in four days while 22,000 tonnes fertiliser was unloaded setting a record.

Wang Wenbin said the Chinese side would continue to work with Pakistan to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders and continue to advance CPEC. “We will ensure steady implementation of the current projects and focus on industrial and agricultural fields.”

He said that the Chinese side would ensure that high quality Belt and Road cooperation would deliver greater benefits for the two countries and people in the region.

During the interview with CCTV, President Alvi said that Pakistan’s ties with China had been strengthened as the two countries worked together to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic as well as deepen cooperation on CPEC.

He also hailed China’s assistance in tackling the pandemic in Pakistan.

China had shared its experience of regular epidemic prevention and sent seven batches of medical supplies as well as two medical teams to help Pakistan, he said.

Earlier this year, the Gwadar port officially started taking cargo under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.

It was proved as a huge potential of the Gwadar port, President Alvi said, adding that a number of developmental projects were currently in full swing to further boost trade between Pakistan and Central Asian states.