He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, is scheduled to visit Islamabad on July 30 (today) to attend the 10-year anniversary of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major project. . The Foreign Office said in a statement that under the Belt and Road Initiative
According to the Foreign Office, the Chinese Deputy Prime Minister will also meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit.
Sources further said that he will also meet Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other government officials.
The high-level visit of the representative of the Chinese government will conclude on August 1, after which he will depart.
PM Shehbaz acknowledges CPEC’s role
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the CPEC project for playing a key role in transforming Pakistan’s development landscape with the launch of multi-billion dollar projects.
Addressing the ceremony held to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of CPEC, the Prime Minister admitted that the mega project helped Pakistan develop in the region and the world.
He added that the country ushered in a new era of development with the completion of hundreds of projects under the umbrella of CPEC, including coal-fired power plants, the Orange Line mass transit project, and road infrastructure.
He said that CPEC is a story of hard work and tireless commitment between the leadership of Pakistan and China.
Describing CPEC as a very transparent project, the Prime Minister said that the Chinese government and companies have invested 25.4 billion dollars in various projects.
He appreciated President Xi Jinping’s unwavering support of CPEC for the welfare of the people of Pakistan. Sharif expressed his belief that CPEC will give a big start in various sectors including agriculture, special economic zones, information technology and exploration of mineral resources.
What is CPEC?
Launched in 2013 by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the multi-billion dollar CPEC project was conceived and designed as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mainly with the objective of leveraging Pakistan’s key geo-strategic location for geo-economic benefits through better regional and economic integration, the CPEC includes everything from physical and digital connectivity to power generation and industrialization through Special Economic Zones. Includes a full range of projects up to
After extensive research and consultation and deliberation between the representatives of the governments of China and Pakistan, a set of plans to be implemented under the initial harvest phase (2018), short-term plan (2020), medium-term phase (2025). A comprehensive portfolio was identified. , and the long-term phase (2030).
