INP-WealthPk
CPEC projects achieve major progress despite COVID-19- Says Chinese envoy
December 21, 2020
Islamabad, December 21 (INP)CPEC projects have achieved major progress despite the adversity challenge brought by COVID-19 pandemic.
This was stated here on Monday by Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong at the online
Awarding Ceremony for Outstanding Pakistani Staff of CPEC projects.
The 18 outstanding Pakistani staff attended the ceremony were from Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure and other fields of the CPEC construction.
Asim Saleem Bajwa, Chairman CPEC Authority also attended the ceremony. The ambassador said it was his pleasure to attend the Awarding Ceremony for Outstanding Pakistani Staff of CPEC projects.
He noted that the CPEC staff has supported Pakistan’s drive in the fighting against COVID-19, ensuring economic stability, and well-being of the people. It has also continued to train high-quality talents for the country.
They are outstanding representatives of Pakistani staff in all fields of CPEC cooperation and demonstrate the diversification of China-Pakistan cooperation in the new era, he added.
On behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan, he extended his warm congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to all those who have won the award for your excellent service.
He expressed his gratitude to all the companies and their staff working on the CPEC projects for their continuous contribution in advancing CPEC cooperation.
CPEC, he said is an important pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative and a demonstration project of China-Pakistan cooperation.
It is significant to deepen China- Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership for the building a closer community of shared future, and the realization of high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
During the past 5 years since President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, the CPEC has achieved great success and made tremendous contributions to the development of Pakistan and regional connectivity under the joint efforts of the governments, enterprises, and all walks of life from both countries.
Based on consensus of both governments, we further expand the CEPC cooperation from Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure development and industrial cooperation to new areas of agriculture, science and technology, social economy and international cooperation.
We are pleased to see that during the Covid-19, CEPC energy projects have provided one third of power supply across Pakistan. The focus for energy cooperation has been shifted from addressing power shortage to its structural adjustments.
The Mertiari to Lahore HVDC Transmission Line Project has been completed. The Power Purchase Agreements of green and clean energy projects such as Kohala Hydropower and Patan Hydropower have been signed.
With the completion of upgrade of KKH Phase-II, the China-Pakistan friendship highway, the transportation network for north-western Pakistan has been improved. In Lahore, the operation of the Orange Line project has brought Pakistan into a metro era.
There has been increase of port handling capacity in Gwadar Port. The transit trade for Afghan goods through Gwadar Port has been officially launched, helped the sustainable supply of daily necessities for people of Pakistan and Afghanistan during COVID-19 period.
China and Pakistan further promoted industrial cooperation with the signing of the Development Agreement of Rashakai Economic Zone.
We have also completed a number of environment-friendly social economic projects such as the expansion work of Faqur School in Gwadar, China-Pakistan Friendship Forest, aid of disaster relief facilities, donation of cold-chain vaccine storage and transportation equipment in a timely manner.
It is fair to say that both sides have overcome the difficulties of the COVID-19 and made new head ways of cooperation in a coordinated way. In this year, there is no stop of the construction, no job cut, no withdrawal of workforce of the CPEC projects.
Many Chinese workers have overcome difficulties and stayed in their posts in Pakistan. Each of the hard earned achievements are the results of the sweat and joint efforts of both sides.
We have written a new and touching chapter of China-Pakistan friendship through our cooperation, the ambassador added.
INP/javed
