3S in Pakistan vital to implementation of CPEC projects: Zhao Shiren
Gwadar Pro
Lahore: Solidarity, Stability and Security (3S) in the host country can ensure the timely and quality implementation of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chinese Consul General in Lahore Zhao Shiren said.
Addressing the conference on “Significance of the Belt and Road Initiative in Regional Connectivity, he maintained that CPEC was more than a gift. “It must be deemed as a joint venture, a shared undertaking, a common endeavor,” he stressed.
The Chinese diplomat mentioned that the current circumstance demanded us to have a sense of urgency and inject new momentum into the CPEC development.
“China develops its brotherly relations with Pakistan not only for the sake of the government, but is more for the people, the country and the nation,” he said.
Shiren stressed that the Pakistani people have the co-ownership of the CPEC projects. While implementing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), he added, “China always seeks extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits with partners and stakeholders. This principle also applies to CPEC. Ownership means taking the driver seat, boldness and responsibilities.”
The senior Chinese diplomat invited “Pakistani brothers to converge our development strategies and have close policy dialogues. We spare no effort to make CPEC more resilient, vibrant and mutually beneficial. After of all, the future of CPEC is ultimately in Pakistanis’ hand, we hereby ask for more initiatives from our Pakistani partners.”He underlined that all stakeholders must be brought on board.
“In addition to creating a favorable policy, security and business environment, a friendly public opinion is required to cement CPEC growth. CPEC, like BRI, has won along its way more and more friends and partners from the region and around the world. It is also met with a handful of opponents and adversaries. As CPEC is transforming from Phase I to Phase II and renewing pace, some false narratives, negative propaganda and vicious rumors are also on the rise,” Zhao Shiren contended.
“Chinese projects and institutions on CPEC were targeted, and some Chinese workers were attacked and brutally killed by terrorists. In this context, we should make joint efforts to reach out to a wide sector of Pakistani society, launch a CPEC awareness campaign to build up national consensus. We should invest more on messaging accurate, precise and truthful information about CPEC projects, and further engage media outlets, so as to form positive narratives and depict soft image of CPEC projects and Chinese investment, mitigating fake and fictional news, counteracting the negative propaganda and consolidating the CPEC process,” he suggested.
