By Ansar Mahmood Bhatti

ISLAMABAD, DEC 11 (DNA) – Assistant Minister of Communist Party of China (CPC) Wang Yajun has said China was glad to see that all political parties in Pakistan were supporting CPEC adding this goodwill gesture shown by the political parties augurs well for the future of the project.

The Chinese minister was speaking on the occasion of Thematic briefing on 19^th National Congress of Communist Party of China (CPC). The briefing was arranged by Pakistan-China Institute.

A galaxy of politicians; members of civil society; media non-governmental sector; diplomats and business community attended the briefing. All political parties have sent their representative to attend the briefing.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed Chairman Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor delivered the welcome address.

Minister Wang Yajun further said, China esteems its relations with Pakistan and due to CPEC both countries are cherishing perpetual friendship which is flourishing further.

The minister went on to say that CPEC is the flagship project of Belt and Road initiative which has ushered in a new era of construction and development in Pakistan.

Wang Yajun went on to say that some of the countries are opposing CPEC but it will be of no use for them and in fact, those countries are losing opportunities of progress.

The Chinese minister also highlighted various steps that the Chinese government had taken to root out corruption. He said the government categorized corrupt people in three categories starting from ministers to rank and file.

He said in each category hundreds of people have so far been punished while the process still continues. He said the Chinese government has Zero tolerance for corruption therefore it will do its best to do away with this menace.

Minister Wang added, over 500 model cities shall be established in the coming years adding those cities that need development have put top on the priority list.

He said China always considered Pakistan a trusted and true friend.” Let me assure you on behalf of the Chinese people and Chinese government that China would do whatever it could to not only preserve this friendship but to further strengthen and deepen it.

He said during his recent visit to Lahore he had seen progress going on the CPEC project and was happy to learn that Pakistan has already said goodbye to load-shedding.

Earlier, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed welcomed the guest and hoped Pakistan; China friendship will grow even in the coming days.

Senator Mushahid said CPEC had provided jobs to hundreds of Pakistani people. He dispelled the impress as if Chinese labourers would dominate Pakistani markets after CPEC completion. He said so far there was no Chinese labourer working in Pakistan.

He said the Chinese who are in Pakistan are either engineers or technicians working on various projects. He said it was not logical to have labour force from China as cost much higher as compared with the local labour.

To a question about corruption in CPEC projects Senator Mushahid made it crystal clear that there was no corruption in any of the CPEC project.

He said so far over 200,000 media people from both countries had visited Pakistan and China as part of various exchange programmes and hoped such visits would increase even in the prospect.=DNA

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