BEIJING: China has on Thursday stated that a change in government in Islamabad will not disrupt the development work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects that are underway.
China also confirmed that work on 19 of 50 projects related to CPEC is underway and will continue uninterrupted.
“It will not be affected by a change in government in Islamabad,” a senior official of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said while briefing visiting Pakistani journalists at the foreign office.
“It makes no difference (to China) who comes in (government) and who goes out as both countries have brotherly relations. What matters more is the timely completion of these projects, which we are closely watching. Since the CPEC is a flagship programme of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) project, it is very much important for us and we are keen on its timely completion. We also want Pakistan to seize this opportunity. It must not lose it,” he said.
Asian Affairs Department’s Deputy Division Director Liu Pengfei expressed the view that China wants to ensure the timely completion of CPEC projects since they are of utmost significance to the people of the neighbouring countries.
The official also expressed his satisfaction at the pace of projects underway and stated that they will pick up momentum once the infrastructural situation improves in Pakistan.
Dispelling all local and foreign criticism regarding the CPEC, Liu said that the CPEC will not be affected by any negative criticism whether local or foreign. He asserted the speedy completion of the projects adding that it will benefit the lives of people of both countries economically and socially. He went on to say that CPEC will let everyone know that Pakistan and China enjoy brotherly relations with each other.
The United States last month had allegedly stated that CPEC worth $56 billion passed through the disputed territory, which India claims is a part of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region. “The OBOR also goes through the disputed territory, and I think that in itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate,” US Secretary of Defence James Mattis stated.
Liu clarified that CPEC does not pass through disputed territory while also highlighting the significance of bilateral talks in resolving the Kashmir issue.
