Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 23 (Gwadar Pro) – The 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum was held here in Nov. 22, 2019. The forum was hosted by the Embassy of People's Republic of China in Pakistan and jointly organized by the Pakistan-China Institute and China Economic Net.

On the Forum, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing and a number of Pakistani lawmakers and members of the Chinese and Pakistani media refuted negative remarks of Alice Wells, United States acting assistant secretary of state.

In his keynote address, Yao Jing said that the CPEC has brought tangible economic and social benefits to Pakistan over the past six years after its launch, which is widely recognized. The generating capacity of the completed energy projects under CPEC account for nearly 30 percent of Pakistan’s total power generation. These projects have provided energy security for Pakistan’s economic development. The Havelian-Mansehra section of Karakorum Highway (KKH) II opened to traffic just on Nov. 18, and it resolves the trip problem along KKH. The Initial District of Gwadar Free Zone has got over 20 enterprises residents, with a direct investment over 600 million U.S. dollars.

Facts proved that CPEC has won the recognition of governments and peoples of China and Pakistan. The so-called US theories of “high costs, non-transparence and corruption of CPEC projects” are totally groundless.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners who stand together through thick and thin and share weal and woe. CPEC is a model of China-Pakistan friendly cooperation and win-win results.

Under the joint planning of the two governments, the next phase of CPEC, will continue to focus on industrial and agricultural cooperation with people's livelihood as the core and maintain a sound momentum of high-quality development to bring more benefits for the two countries and peoples.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

Senator Mushahid Hussain said that Pakistan China relations and the success of CPEC “rankles many” both in the region as well as outside the region, hence while they cannot stop or slow the project, now they are trying to undermine it through negative propaganda.

He said that its ironical that on one hand US is opposing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as CPEC but on the other hand the US is taking steps to have a “copycat project” through the recently passed BUILD ACT and the newly established International Development Finance Cooperation, which has outlay in infrastructure and other areas of $60 billion.

Talking about the so-called Debt trap, Senator Mushahid Hussain said 91 percent of the Pakistani debt is owed to the west, including multilateral institutions and only 9 percent to China.

Other Pakistani at the forum said, CPEC is a symbol of peace and prosperity and will benefit the region. The Pakistani government and people firmly support the CPEC construction, which has become a cross-party, -regional and -class consensus and will never be disturbed by the outside world. Any attempt to smear and attack CPEC will not succeed.

In his speech, Ambassador Yao Jing also spoke highly of the positive role of China-Pakistan media cooperation. He encouraged the media of the two countries to make further efforts to create a favorable atmosphere of public opinion for the construction of CPEC.

Cui Jun, Editor in Chief of China Economic Net gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

Cui Jun, Editor in Chief of China Economic Net expressed the resolve of and confidence of Chinese media in boosting the exchanges and communication for CPEC. CPEC has brought to Pakistan some of China's successful practices and experience of rapid development in fields including the infrastructure and special economic zone construction over the past four decades. He said Gwadar Free Zone and Rashakai special economic zone will play an important role in the economic development of Pakistan.

Gao Nan, Senior Operations Executive of China’s Xinhua News Agency gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

Xinhua News Agency has been paying great attention to Pakistan and focusing on CPEC coverage. Xinhua News Agency and Independent News Pakistan (INP) signed an agreement to launch Xinhua Pakistan Service during PM Imran Khan’s visit to China in October 2019. Gao advised that China-Pak media to jointly enhance the charisma of CPEC, tell the good stories of times and promote pragmatic cooperation.

Tan Limin, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office, GuangMing Daily gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

Tan Limin, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office, GuangMing Daily called on media to tell true stories and good stories of China and Pakistan, deepen mutual understanding and let the world hear a stronger voice from China and Pakistan.

Meng Yuhong, Vice Editor-in-chief of Global Times gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

Analyzing the opportunities and challenges in China-Pak media cooperation, Meng Yuhong, Vice Editor-in-chief of Global Times, said western media’s negative campaigning was totally wrong and “we saw Pakistan’s prosperity with our own eyes.” However, the understanding between two peoples is not enough, neither is the communication between the media. So, the media of China and Pakistan will strive for promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, she pointed.

Cao Ri, Director of International News Dept, China Central Television, gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

Cao Ri, Director of International News Dept, China Central Television, said the media should report China-Pakistan cooperation achievements from a comprehensive perspective on multiple platforms, cover the friendly exchanges of the two peoples by enriching means. China Media Group hopes to make comprehensive cooperation in various fields such as program production, personnel exchange, training and innovation, and building a new media partnership.

Wang Qi, Chief Reporter, Asian African Regional Language Program Center, China Media Group, gives a speech on the 5th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum, on November 22, 2019, Islamabad. [Photo by Wang Yan/China Economic Net]

The interaction and exchanges among Chinese and Pakistani media personnel should be strengthened, said Wang Qi, Chief Reporter, Asian African Regional Language Program Center, China Media Group. Wang said the media of the two countries should further cooperation in joint planning, joint interviews, program production, business discussions and personnel exchanges along the CPEC. As for the false report on CPEC by western media, Chinese and Pakistani media could take the initiative to set the agenda and make Pakistani people truly understand the Corridor and participate in its construction.

The award ceremony of the second "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Golden Anchor Award" was held at the forum. Totally ten media staff were awarded the prizes for their contributions in strengthening CPEC and China Pakistan relations. The Golden Anchor Award, initiated by China Economic Net, are designed to encourage the Chinese and Pakistani media to report objectively, truthfully and vividly on CPEC.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum has been held successfully for five consecutive years so far. It has attracted the mainstream media of the two countries with a wide influence.