ISLAMABAD – Top Chinese envoy in Pakistan has said law and situation in Balochistan has considerably improved and there is no threat to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“Gwadar sea port is very close to becoming an international trading hub and there is no threat to China Pakistan Economic Corridor,” Ambassador Yao Jing said while speaking to BBC Urdu in capital Islamabad.
Around 10,000 Chinese and sixty thousand Pakistanis were working on CPEC, the diplomat said, adding Beijing was satisfied with the measures taken by Pakistan for their protection.
Work on 21 projects is in progress while 20 more projects are in pipeline. Ten thousand Chinese nationals and sixty thousand Pakistanis are working with CPEC projects.
~Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing while expressing satisfaction on CPEC projects’ progress???? pic.twitter.com/OeG7yiXNG9— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) February 3, 2018
The CPEC is in the first phase in which work on 21 project is underway with 20 more projects in the pipeline, according to Mr Jing.
He said the Corridor would be expanded to neighbouring countries including Afghanistan.
To a question regarding Pak-Afghan relations, he said China was desirous of good relations between the two South Asian neighbours and was making efforts for peace process in the war-torn country.
The ambassador further stated that Beijing has no influence over Taliban but it was in contact with their political office in Qatar.
Time and again, he added, China has requested Taliban to take part in negotiations.
Earlier, Yao Jing in his message on successful holding of Gwadar Expo 2018 said “the development of Gwadar is in line with the principles of the Belt and Road Initiative, which stress wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.”
The message further says that with the commitment and hard work by the both sides, Gwadar will become a new hub of connectivity and commercial activities, bringing tangible benefits to the people of Balochistan, Pakistan, and the region at large.
