Naveed Siddiqui
ISLAMABAD: In a special ceremony held here on Monday, Pakistan and China celebrated the completion of the first decade of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). High-level leadership from both countries, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative, Vice Premier Mr. He Lifeng, attended the event.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vice Premier He Lifeng praised CPEC for its positive impact on Pakistan’s socio-economic development and the progress and prosperity of both nations. They emphasized that CPEC, as the flagship project of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, has significantly transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape by addressing infrastructure bottlenecks and resolving power shortages.
Both leaders expressed their commitment to building upon the achievements of the last decade and continuing their cooperation to further develop CPEC as a high-quality demonstrable project of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The event also recognized the efforts of Pakistani and Chinese experts, engineers, and workers whose contributions led to the timely completion of all CPEC projects in Pakistan.
A special message from President Xi Jinping congratulating the government and people of Pakistan on the completion of the first decade of CPEC was read by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
To commemorate the significance of the occasion, a special Postal Stamp, Commemorative Coin, and First Day Cover were issued. Additionally, a memento capturing the achievements made and the futuristic vision of CPEC was unveiled by both sides.
The ceremony featured special performances showcasing various aspects of Pakistan’s pluralistic and progressive culture, highlighting the deep civilizational affinity and fraternal ties between Pakistan and China.
CPEC was initiated in 2013 after the visit of the Chinese Premier to Pakistan, and in the past ten years, multiple projects in energy, transport infrastructure, port/airport development, and digital connectivity have been initiated and completed.
The economic impact of CPEC on Pakistan has been significant, including the creation of over 200,000 jobs, the addition of 8000 MW power to the national grid, the construction of 510 kilometers of highways and 932 kilometers of road network, and the laying of an 820-kilometer long optical fiber line.
Under Phase-II of CPEC, both countries have expanded cooperation to new areas, including rural revitalization, agricultural development, industrialization, green development, and science and technology.
