China - Pak collaboration will result in huge benefits for the entire region

Spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying has reiterated that China would work with Pakistan to push forward smooth progress on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to bring more economic benefits for the two people as well as the entire region.

“We appreciate and applaud Pakistan’s efforts it put in during building of the CPEC which has now entered a stage of implementation with the concerted efforts of China and Pakistan,” she said during her regular press briefing in Beijing. 

Responding to a question that Pakistan government has allocated US$ 1.7 billion for CPEC and its supporting projects in the budget of next financial year starting from July 1, the Spokesperson said, “China will work with Pakistan to push forward smooth progress in building the CPEC.”

The Spokesperson opined that, “CPEC, a flagship project of One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative announced by Chinese President, Xi Jinping, has helped Pakistan to improve transport and energy infrastructures and also provided job opportunities for the people in Pakistan.”

When her attention was drawn towards the Indian External Affairs minister’s interaction with media in which she spoke about issues related to India’s entry to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the spokesperson said, “We have reiterated our position many times over this issue.”

Hua Chunying said, “China’s position on the admission of non-NPT states into the NSG remains unchanged. China supports the NSG in handling the relevant issue as mandated by the 2016 Seoul General Assembly with the principle of consensus and through the open and transparent inter-governmental process and the “two-step” approach which requires the NSG members to work out a solution applicable to all non-NPT states and on that basis, to deliberate on joining of specific non-NPT states.” 

The Spokesperson said, “China will continue to take part in the NSG’s relevant discussion in a constructive way.”

About One Belt One Road issues between China and India, she termed Kashmir a left over issue from the history between India and Pakistan which should be properly settled by the two countries through consultation and negotiation.

“We have also been stressing that CPEC is a project of economic cooperation and it would not affect China’s position on the issue of Kashmir,” she said and added that CPEC is not targeting any country.

In response to a question about alleged airspace violations by two Chinese helicopters over China-India border, she reiterated that, “China and India have dispute on the borders. Chinese border guards also conduct patrolling along the border. We should communicate and coordinate with each other through a border consultation mechanism to uphold peace and stability across the border.”