Islamabad (Web Desk): The political consensus was shown at the CPEC Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum and 3rd Meeting of CPEC Political Parties Joint Consultative Mechanism co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) and member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee Liu Jianchao who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan.
Besides Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the senior leadership of all major political parties attended the event including Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of Muttahida Qaumi Movementp-Pakistan (MQM-P), Hina Rabbani Khar of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Senator Syed Ali Zafar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Munazza Hassan of Istehkam Pakistan Party (IPP), National Party’s (NP) Senator Jan Muhammad, senior politicians Afrasiab Khattak and others.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) played a catalystic role in Pakistan’s socioeconomic development.
He said besides ridding the country of a chronic issue of load-shedding, the development projects under the CPEC helped create hundreds of new employment opportunities for the Pakistani people which the people of Pakistan would never forget.
Recalling the recent visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China, the deputy prime minister said both sides showed unanimity to execute the second phase of CPEC besides signing the modalities for third-party participation in the project.
He reiterated that Pakistan was committed to promoting people-to-people linkages as both countries stood with each other through thick and thin.
Dar said the CPEC constituted a vital pillar of the Pak-China economic and strategic partnership and that there was complete unanimity on its significance as it catalyzed
Pakistan’s endeavors toward socioeconomic prosperity and regional connectivity.
He said as the two countries were witnessing a high-quality second phase of CPEC with both sides prioritizing the agriculture, information technology, industry and mining and mineral sectors.
In his remarks, Chinese Minister Liu Jianchao said the agreements signed during the “very successful” visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif provided an opportunity for the two countries to upgrade their ties to bring about desirable changes.
He said the determination of both countries’ leaderships sent a clear message to the world that the China-Pakistan friendship was unbreakable.
The Chinese minister said that Pakistan’s government introduced 5Es to focus on five key areas presenting an important opportunity for two peoples to work together to promote the community of shared destiny.
Calling party-to-party relations an integral part of bilateral relations, he said it was high time the parties contributed their wisdom to turn the blueprint into reality by understanding each other’s development philosophy.
Liu Jianchao said the affinity between the two peoples was not commensurate with the iron-clad nature of friendship and announced that IDCPC would invite 300 Pakistani parliamentarians to China in three years besides providing scholarships and vocational training to Pakistani youth.
Highlighting the adverse impacts of Western social media on the young generation regarding bilateral relationships, he said that China would also invite people from media on a yearly basis to better understand each other.
Addressing the JCM, Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said all the political parties are committed to CPEC as it promoted collaboration in health, education, information technology and other sectors besides its contribution to addressing the power woes of the country.
He urged both sides to work together for a green and resilient future besides strengthening partnership in education and tourism sectors.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC ensured vigilant oversight of the government and followed up on the progress of the projects under CPEC through regular reporting to the Parliament of Pakistan.
He reaffirmed the resolve of the parliament, government, and people of Pakistan to build on past successes and in ensuring that CPEC reaches its full potential.
JUI-Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership for their unconditional support of the Kashmir cause and reiterated Pakistan’s support on the Taiwan issue.
Minister for Federal Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Munazza Hassan called for an enhanced focus on education, information technology and artificial intelligence to harness the youth’s potential.
Syed Ali Zafar called for accelerating CPEC projects while Chairman of Pakistan-China Institute Mushahid Hussain Sayed reiterated the political parties’ commitment to take the CPEC-II forward.
National Party’s Senator Jan Muhammad called for technical training of Balochistan’s youth, while Afrasiab Khattak cautioned against the designs of the hegemonic forces in the region trying to disrupt peace.
Earlier during a meeting today, FM Dar and Liu Jianchao agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level engagements between China and Pakistan to further enhance communication on important regional and global issues.
The deputy prime minister appreciated the positive contribution of CPEC to Pakistan's socio-economic development, and progress and prosperity.
He underscored that as the flagship project of President China's Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has transformed energy security.
Lauding the unanimous political consensus on CPEC in the two countries, FM Dar expressed Pakistan's firm resolve to building upon the achievements of CPEC and for its high quality development in its Phase-II.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese Minister said that as iron brother and time-tested friend, China accords a special place to Pakistan in its foreign policy and desires to further strengthen the All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with Pakistan.
Expressing satisfaction at the steady pace of CPEC, Liu added that China would extend full cooperation to Pakistan for the timely implementation of all ongoing and new CPEC projects in Pakistan.
He also appreciated the political parties of Pakistan for their steadfast support to CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship, and reiterated China's keen desire to further enhance linkages between the Communist Party of China and the political parties of Pakistan.