PM said his recent visit to China boosted bilateral ties and CPEC projects.

ISLAMABAD (APP) – Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that his recent travel to China and bilateral discussions with Chinese leaders had strengthened the long-standing connections and will speed up work on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s current projects (CPEC).

During a meeting with a group of former ambassadors and think tanks, the prime minister stated that his recent travel to China was extremely important in light of the rapidly changing global political landscape.

The Chinese leadership praised his government’s efforts to combat the Covid 19 outbreak, as well as favourable economic indicators, he added, adding that they reiterated their economic assistance for Pakistan through particular initiatives.

His visit, according to the prime minister, strengthened connections between the two countries.

During the meeting, federal ministers and the PM’s special assistants were also present.

The encounter with President Xi Jinping, according to the prime minister, came two years after the onset of the Covid 19 epidemic. These bilateral discussions gave the China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects a boost, he said, dismissing any concerns about the sluggish pace of construction on these projects.

The prime minister stated that the world community has reached an agreement on Afghanistan.

Europe and all of Afghanistan’s neighbours agreed to avert humanitarian problems in the country and emphasised the importance of unfreezing their assets. The United States was also aware of the issue. All agreed that efforts should be done to prevent Afghanistan from devolving into turmoil.

In response to a question, the prime minister stated that challenges with decision-making have arisen after the 18th amendment, citing the disparity in wheat prices between Sindh and other provinces as an example.

In comparison to the Chinese government, the prime minister stated that when a decision was made, it was carried out, but in Pakistan, there was a lack of coordination between the federal and provincial administrations.

He said that in China, the entire country worked for wealth development, and that all barriers in Special Economic Zones (SMEs) will be abolished.

During the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chinese crowd erupted in applause for the Pakistani team, demonstrating how deep the two countries’ connections are, he said.