Pakistan, China vow to protect CPEC from enemies

Pakistan and China on Friday vowed to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor from its detractors and adversaries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured Beijing of providing full security to engineers and other staffers working on multi-billion projects.

Currently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is on a five-day visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. During the visit, the prime minister will seek upgrade cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The PM’s Office, in a statement, said that during the meeting, the two sides deliberated the significance of Gwadar as an important CPEC pillar. Both sides agreed to speed up the timely completion of all related infrastructure projects to turn Gwadar into a regional economic hub.

The statement added that they also expressed firm commitment to protect CPEC from its detractors and enemies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reaffirmed Islamabad’s resolve to ensure the safety and security of Chinese engineers and projects in Pakistan.

It is to be mentioned here that since 2013 Chinese investment and support have been a key for Pakistan’s struggling economy.

Under the $65 billion CPEC plan, China has also invested billions in various power projects and road networks in Pakistan.