ISLAMABAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not just a bilateral project benefiting Pakistan and China, but has far-reaching positive impacts on the entire region, Secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Awais Manzur Sumra said on Wednesday.
Addressing a one-day conference titled "CPEC: Enhancing Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" here, Sumra said that by promoting regional connectivity and trans-border trade, Pakistan and China are building a future where prosperity is shared, and development is inclusive.
He said that since the inception of CPEC in 2013, Pakistan witnessed remarkable milestones that have transformed the economic landscape of the South Asian country.
"CPEC phase-I focused primarily on addressing the immediate needs of our nation by incorporating energy into the national grid, constructing vital infrastructure projects including motorways and highways, and developing and operationalizing the strategic Gwadar port," he said.
Talking about the CPEC Phase-II, Sumra said that it aims for high-quality development, bringing advanced manufacturing technologies and job opportunities to Pakistan with a special focus on agricultural modernization to enhance food security and improve farmers' livelihoods.
Under the new phase, science and technology cooperation will drive innovation, fostering knowledge-based economy for Pakistan through collaborative research and development with China, he added.
"We are also making rapid progress on the development of the Gwadar Port and free trade zone, which will promote regional connectivity and economic integration, positioning Pakistan as a hub for trade and commerce," the official said.
The potential for trans-border trade with neighboring countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian states is immense, and Pakistan has already seen positive impacts, with trade consignments destined for Afghanistan being cleared from Gwadar Port, he added.
Addressing the conference, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong said that CPEC, being a landmark project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has not only effectively promoted Pakistan's economic and social development, but also brought visible, tangible, and good results to the local people since its inception.
"Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, we are ready to work with Pakistan to accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era and lead the great process of building a community with a shared future for mankind," he added.
The conference saw a diverse gathering of participants from various sectors of society, reflecting widespread interest in the future of CPEC.
The participants included a substantial number of students eager to understand how CPEC Phase-II might shape their future and offer new opportunities for career growth and innovation.
A large number of scholars and researchers from different fields also attended the conference and engaged in discussions about the transformative potential of CPEC, particularly in terms of technological advancement, infrastructure development, and economic growth.
Participants at the conference expressed strong confidence in the potential of CPEC Phase-II, and hoped that it would usher in a new era of development for Pakistan, bringing advanced technologies, creating numerous job opportunities, and modernizing key sectors including agriculture and industry.
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