Gwadar airport to contribute to region, world's development: China

April 1, 2019: Chinese government Monday appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan for performing groundbreaking for the construction of New Gwadar International Airport and said the project would not only help benefit two countries but also contribute to the development of the region and world.

“We appreciate the prime minister’s attendance at the ceremony and we have every confidence in the prospects of our practical cooperation,” Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson Geng Shuang told during his regular briefing held here.

He expressed the confidence that the airport after its construction would not only help benefit the two countries but also contributed to the development of the region and the world.

The spokesperson said China and Pakistan under the Belt and Road framework had conducted a series of mutually beneficial cooperation, adding, the construction of the new airport at Gwadar was just one such example.

According to official sources, the 230 million US dollar project fully funded by the Chinese government under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would be completed in a period of three years, which is located in Gurandani area, some 26 km northeast of Gwadar city of Balochistan province.

The new airport would be capable of handling a combination of ATR 72, Airbus A-380, Boeing B-737 and Boeing B-747 for domestic and international routes.

Covering an area of 18 square km, the new airport would be the second largest airport in Pakistan and link the country’s fast-rising southwest Gwadar port city with the rest of the world.

 (APP)