BEIJING, April 29 (Gwadar Pro) - Addressing the Pakistan China Trade & Investment Forum on Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has blossomed into various areas, including roads, power plants, and will further expand to agriculture cooperation.

Pak-China Agriculture & Technology Cooperation to Spur

“Chinese help in seed development and agriculture research will help increase our agricultural productivity manifold. If we can raise the productivity of agriculture that in itself will propel Pakistan’s growth rate to a point where we can raise the standard of living.” Prime Minister said.

He also acknowledged that the meeting with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li was fruitful, with Pakistan getting help from China in the field of science and technology too.

An elite University of Science and Technology covering at least eight areas in which China has excelled was envisaged in the speech. “With a young population – 60 per cent of Pakistan’s population is below the age of 30 – Pakistan can use China’s help.”

Pakistan Welcomes Investments Under BRI & CPEC

Commenting on the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Khan said, “My experience of two days with the Belt and Road Forum, while listening to almost 40 different heads of state, I came to the conclusion that the Forum is to be much bigger than imagined, because this is the future.”

He also appreciated the CPEC projects for “they gave us an opportunity to open up.” “I would like to invite all industrialists (planning relocation) to Pakistan. Since Vietnam and Bangladesh have capacity issues, Chinese businesses may relocate to Pakistan. We would like you to invest more in Special Economic Zones,” he added.

Khan promised that the government would be dedicated to removing embedded impediments in relocation of businesses and would make it easier for investors by providing foreign investors with concessions in taxes.

Regional Peace & Cooperation to Enhance

Prime Minister also emphasized and informed the Chinese businesses that Pakistan now has a secure environment across the country.

“Peace in Afghanistan would increase connectivity between Central Asia and Pakistan which connects China. So, this would help CPEC connect to other countries. And right now, we are engaged in helping peace process in Afghanistan. Pakistan is now playing its part in Afghan peace process hoping that there will be a political settlement. Pakistan is very important due to its geostrategic location. Pakistan is the Future,”he stressed.

Referring India as a huge consumption market neighbouring Pakistan, Khan believed there is a need to tap the potentials of economic cooperation, and expressed a desire for better ties. He said Islamabad wanted a civilized relationship with New Delhi and sought to resolve the Kashmir conflict through dialogue.