Pakistan assures China of ‘smooth progress’ of CPEC

Amid security concerns over the construction of the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan today vowed to take steps to facilitate its “smooth progress”.

“As this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties, China is willing to work with Pakistan to develop the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to achieve mutual development,” Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli told a Pakistan ruling party PML-N delegation led by Punjab Province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

“With already friendly relations with the Pakistan Muslim League, the Communist Party of China looks forward to enhancing high-level exchanges and sharing experiences in state governance with the party,” he said.

Shahbaz, who is Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s brother, expressed sympathy for the residents of flood-hit areas in China and said 10,000 tonnes of rice would be donated by Pakistan, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

“Pakistan will take measures to cooperate with China to facilitate the smooth progress of the economic corridor programme,” Sharif said.