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CPEC gives new impetus to Pak-China relationship: Masood Khalid

September 25, 2017

DATONG, SHANXI, Sept 25 (INP): China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which lies at the heart of One Belt, One Road initiative of Chinese president Xi Jinping has given a new impetus to the unique and exemplary relationship of both countries, said Pakistani ambassador to China Masood Khalid. While addressing the “Power of the Image” China (Datong) International Photography Culture Exhibition 2017 here, the ambassador said that CPEC has the potential to benefit not only Pakistan and China but the entire region. Under CPEC, the two countries have achieved good progress on projects relating to energy, infrastructure and Gwadar, while work on setting up Special Economic Zones and industrial parks is going on. A few early harvest projects, relating to energy have already been completed while others are expected to be completed by 2018, he went on saying. He also said that people to people and cultural exchanges are an important component of the bilateral relations while the both sides are working together to enhance the exchange of scholars, businessmen and students. Currently around 22,000 Pakistani students are studying in China in multiple disciples including Chinese language, material and social sciences, he added. He also told that the Urdu departments and Pakistan Study Centers across China are promoting Urdu language and Culture of Pakistan and all these efforts will be instrumental in promoting the economic and cultural relations of the two countries. He added that continuing with this harmonious friendship, today Pakistan and China stand as a perfect example for the world, where people belonging to different culture, language and religion not only established brotherly relations but also made it an “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership”. The ambassador mentioned that the exchange between Pakistan and China has its roots along the ancient silk route which triggered a profusion of a cross-cultural exchange having a lasting impact on Asian and World history. At the photographic exhibition, Pakistan consul general in Hong Kong Abdul Qadir Memon won the best Image Award following his professional work displayed. INP/SB/AK