3S in host country vital to timely and quality implementation of CPEC projects: Zhao Shiren
China Economic Net
Lahore: Consul General of China in Lahore Zhao Shiren has said that that Solidarity, Stability and Security (3S) in the host country can ensure the timely and quality implementation of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
Addressing a key note speech at the conference on “Significance of the Belt and Road Initiative in Regional Connectivity, he maintained that CPEC was more than a gift that China gave to Pakistan. “It must be deemed as a joint venture, a shared undertaking, a common endeavor,” he stressed.
The three-day international conference was organized by the Punjab University Regional Integration Centre (RIC) in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy at Al-Raazi Hall.
The Chinese diplomat mentioned that the current circumstance demanded to have a sense of urgency and inject new momentum into the CPEC development.
Zhao Shiren remarked that foreign investment, trade and the expedition of CPEC projects preconditions on social unison, predictable and stable policy, and safe and business-friendly environment.
“China develops its brotherly relations with Pakistan not only for the sake of the government, but is more for the people, the country and the nation,” he said.
The Consul General emphasized that no matter which political party was in power in Pakistan, “we are of the view that the iron-clad relations and CPEC will sustain, he noted. Government should make policy deliverable based on consensus, while political parties have to put national interests before their partisan ones.”
Shiren observed that the Pakistani people have the co-ownership of the CPEC projects. While implementing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), he added, “we Chinese always seek extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits with partners and stakeholders. This principle also applies to the CPEC. Ownership means taking the driver seat, boldness and responsibilities.”
The senior Chinese diplomat invited “Pakistani brothers to converge our development strategies and have close policy dialogues. We spare no effort to make CPEC more resilient, vibrant and mutually beneficial. After of all, the future of CPEC is ultimately in Pakistanis’ hand, we hereby ask for more initiatives from our Pakistani partners.”
He underlined that all stakeholders must be brought on board and launch a CPEC-related publicity offensive in particular.
“In addition to creating a favorable policy, security and business environment, a friendly public opinion is required to cement CPEC growth. CPEC, like the BRI, has won along its way more and more friends and partners from the region and around the world, it is also met with a handful of opponents and adversaries. As CPEC is transforming from Phase I to Phase II and renewing pace, some false narratives, negative propaganda and vicious rumors are also on the rise,” Zhao Shiren contended.
He said misperceptions about CPEC projects’ aims, utilities and scopes are there, misinformation and disinformation were disseminated in social media platforms.
“Chinese projects and institutions on CPEC were targeted, and some Chinese workers were attacked and brutally killed by terrorists. In this context, we should make joint efforts to reach out to a wide sector of Pakistani society, launch a CPEC awareness campaign to build up national consensus. We should invest more on messaging accurate, precise and truthful information about CPEC projects, and further engage media outlets, so as to form positive narratives and depict soft image of CPEC projects and Chinese investment, mitigating fake and fictional news, counteracting the negative propaganda and consolidating the CPEC process,” he suggested.
At the end he said that China and Pakistan enjoyed a long history of friendly relations and brotherhood, which has been uplifted into an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
