BEIJING : Pakistan and China reaffirmed the significance of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reiterated support on each other’s issues of core interest.
In an interview with Gwadar Pro during his stay here, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, he said the first phase of CPEC was to build Gwadar port and energy projects, while the second phase was connectivity and now the third phase is about industrialization under the CPEC framework.
”We have seen some Arab countries showing keen interest to join CPEC,” he added.
“We are looking for Chinese investment because we are giving special incentives to Chinese investors even better than Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippine, and other countries, in terms of communication, cheaper labor, special tax incentives, and Chinese are considered as VVIP in Pakistan”, he mentioned.
He further said that the affiliation between people to people was marked by traditional sentiments of warmth, deep mutual trust, and understanding therefore Pakistan is the safest place for Chinese investors.
Meanwhile talking to China Economic Net, the Minister said, Pakistan is ready to learn from the Chinese experience to develop and promote winter sports in its scenic northern areas.
He said that Pakistan and China have good economic and strategic bonds now converting into sports ties. Chinese media and culture are not known as much as western media in Pakistan but now we are working on these areas.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan invited the Chinese to set up winter sports venues and facilities in Pakistan. I believe now Pakistan and China have culture, sports, and media interaction more often,” Chaudhry Fawad added.
The Information Minister expressed that the way Chinese played with lights was mesmerizing, and added that the stadium and lights were combinations of science and art and the Chinese created beautiful effects with lights that are somethingthe world must learn from.
“Pakistan’s northern area is double than Switzerland in terms of size and having the world’s highest peaks that are suitable for winter sports, but our winter sports are not up to the mark. I hope China would help us by setting up a framework for winter sports in that region and we will be able to produce top athletes for winter sports,” he added
Pakistani athlete Muhammad Karim from Naltar, a village in Gilgit-Baltistan is the only skier participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics and also is the only Pakistani skier to have participated in two Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is very keen to set up winter sports facilities in GB to make the northern areas a hub of winter sports in Pakistan and China can help us by setting up these ski and winter sports facilities,” the Information Minister mentioned
Pakistan’s athlete delegation reached Beijing on 2 February and Muhammad Karim will take to the slopes on 16th February in the Yanging District at the China National Alpine Skiing Center.
Earlier Pakistani giant slalom skier Muhammad Karim told China Economic Net that “I’m very excited and fully prepared to participate in Beijing Winter Olympics. I heard that they used the latest technologies on ski slopes and the world’s best sports facilities there. I can’t wait to see all these things.”
Chaudhry Fawad said that when the Pakistani contingent entered the National Stadium received applause and a very warm welcome from spectators in the stadium that showed respect and love for Pakistan.
