
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a transformational project and said there is a complete national consensus on CPEC's indispensability for the country's development efforts.
Pakistan and China are firmly committed to the timely completion of CPEC projects and making it a high-quality demonstration project of the Belt and Road Initiative, Mahmood said at a meeting with CPEC Authority Chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa, according to a late Monday statement by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.
Reviewing the progress of CPEC projects, Mahmood said that CPEC energy and infrastructure projects have created thousands of jobs and had boosted industrial growth and productivity.
"It testified to the fact that CPEC's contribution to strengthen Pakistan's economic landscape has been real and substantial," the official emphasized.
The foreign secretary underlined that Pakistan's focus in the next phase of CPEC is on industrialization and socio-economic development, areas that will create vast job and growth opportunities for the common people, adding that the government particularly focuses on strengthening agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China.
According to the statement, the two officials reaffirmed that through collective efforts of China and Pakistan, CPEC would become the hub for regional trade and connectivity and will deepen people-to-people exchanges at a wider level.
Bajwa on the occasion underscored that the CPEC Authority is committed to ensuring that CPEC projects are completed on time and Pakistan is mulling a mechanism that could encourage the inflow of Chinese investments to Pakistan.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses