by Shi Puhao

Pakistani President Arif Alvi [Photo/Liu Chang from China Media Group(CMG)]

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 17 (China Economic Net) - During an interaction with the Chinese media, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said Pakistan and China enjoyed excellent relations which were based upon all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

Dilating upon the long history of ties between the Iron Brothers, the president said both countries had been cooperating in diverse fields through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The leadership of both countries had been consistently improving upon the historic relationship, he said, adding the ties were based upon people-to-people linkages.

He said Pakistan and China have been continuously talking about peace in the world and pushing for durable peace across the world.

Pakistan and China had a long history of friendship and they were continuously improving upon these ties which had started during the 1950s and grew tremendously during the 1960s, he added.

On different issues, Pakistan and China think alike, he said. In the face of these changes, the president stressed that any global changes should be based upon principles rather than hegemony.

The last seventy years ties between Pakistan and China had been a good example to show the world how countries could be friendly and forged relations based upon principles and mutual understanding, he added.

About CPEC, the president said it is a unique form of cooperation.

"I think CPEC has a tremendous impact upon the economy of Pakistan," he said. Rejecting certain propaganda launched against CEPC, he said huge cooperation was going on between China and Pakistan.

The president further said that under CPEC, the initial projects were energy-based as Pakistan had been facing serious shortage of energy, subsequently, in the second phase, there were huge room of cooperation in food, health agriculture and poverty alleviation.

The president reiterated that through these multi-dimensional projects, people in Pakistan would find more job opportunities and would be lifted out of poverty.

Highlighting the importance of Gwadar port, the president said fast progress was being achieved. It was one of the largest ports in the region close to the Gulf and would serve as a major deep-sea port.

The president shared that it would link western areas of China, which is a big advantage of it. He said Gwadar port was also strategically very important in other aspects as well, including fishery.

“Gwadar port would ensure peace and development for the whole region,” he expressed his confidence. About the cooperation in the IT sector, the president underlined that cyber security and human resources need to be developed. He maintained that tomorrow's world would not be based upon brick-and-mortar.

The president said that Belt and Road Initiative is a great example to the world to show how development in the decades ahead could be achieved. To another question, the president felicitated the Chinese government for arranging the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics 2022. He opined that from the history of Greece, the world learnt that games had been a source to bring nations closer, enhance cooperation and promote healthy competition through games.