JANUARY 2021 CPEC NEWS SUMMARY

JANUARY 2021 CPEC NEWS SUMMARY

All-Weather Friends: China’s assurance of COVID-19 vaccine provision to Pakistan a timely step

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed Covid-19, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest. Wang said that China will assure the supply of over 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm to Pakistan for emergency use. Qureshi underlined the importance of deep-rooted relations and extended support to China for One-China’s policy and backed Beijing on issues of Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea.

Moreover, he termed CPEC a transformational project and harbinger of regional prosperity and said that the 10th JCC meeting will be held shortly.

ISLAMABAD:

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured his Pakistani counterparty, Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday Beijing would assure the supply of over 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Pakistan for emergency use.

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Qureshi meets African envoys to review Pakistan’s engagement with African countries

ISLAMABAD, Jan 7 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday met African Envoys based in Islamabad to review Pakistan’s engagement with Africa, identify impediments to fulfilling its true potential and chart a way forward.Held under the rubric of the Government’s “Engage Africa” initiative, the meeting was attended by Envoys from Algeria, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.

Recalling the long history of close friendly relations with Africa, the Foreign Minister noted that Pakistan had supported African struggle of freedom from the yoke of colonialism and remained a trustworthy partner in the maintenance of peace and security with the Continent.

He underlined that as part of the “Engage Africa” Initiative, Pakistan was significantly enhancing its diplomatic footprint and economic engagement in Africa.

The success of the Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference, held in January 2020 in Nairobi, highlighted the untapped potential of bilateral trade and investment ties, and underscored the mutual desire to take them to a higher level, he added.

According to a Foreign Office statement, Qureshi spoke with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang by the telephone and exchanged views on Covid-19, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Foreign Office said that the call lasted for an hour.

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China becomes a top importer of Pakistani goods

As per a report published by China Economic Net, China enhanced the capacity of the Pakistani market which resulted in increased exports. Pakistan’s exports to China touched $2.357 billion figure in December 2020 which is 18.3 percent higher from $1.993 billion in December 2019. Chinese scholar Prof. Cheng Xizhong pointed out that this development has stamped on the resilience of Pakistan’s economy and is a result of wise policies of provincial and federal governments. 

BEIJING: China substantially contributed to enhance Pakistan’s export in the recent year, says a report published by China Economic Net (CEN) on Monday.

Pakistan’s exports stood at $2.357 billion in December 2020, up 18.3 percent from $1.993 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year, which grew for the fourth consecutive month, according to data released by Pakistan Ministry of Commerce showed on January 1.

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CPEC to fast-track Pakistan’s biomass energy industry

Zhang Dayong, secretary-general of the Biomass Energy Industry Part Association (BEIPA) said that in order to realize the dream of de-coal initiative launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Biomass energy cooperation will be a starting point of CPEC energy cooperation.  He said that both countries will move towards producing sustainable energy by strengthening their cooperation in this sector.  In this regard, he said that china is willing to initiate the process of technology transfer and share experience with Pakistan.

BEIJING, Jan 8 (APP): The de-coal initiative launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan requires the country to develop clean energy to fill the energy gap.

In this process, “Biomass energy cooperation will be a new starting point for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy cooperation”, Zhang Dayong, secretary-general of the Biomass Energy Industry Part Association (BEIPA), said on Friday.

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FPCCI invites Sweden to benefit from CPEC connectivity

Federation of Pakistan Chambers and Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Chairman, Qurban Ali, during a meeting with the Ambassador of Sweden to Pakistan Henrik Persson, discussed ways to consolidate Pak-Sweden economic and trade ties through CPEC. He briefed the ambassador about prospects of regional connectivity due to CPEC and invited the Swedish investors to start Joint Ventures with local industrialists in Gilgit Baltistan SEZ in value addition on agriculture, livestock, mines and minerals and milk products.

The ambassador appreciated the improved ease of doing business index of Pakistan and reiterated Sweden’s commitment to strengthen trade and economic relations.

Federation of Pakistan Chambers and Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Chairman Qurban Ali on Wednesday urged for increasing the bilateral economic and trade relation between Pakistan and Sweden and also to increase the business to business connectivity among the business communities of the two sides.

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Pak, China making great strides in consolidating bilateral cooperation in cotton research

As per a report by China Economic Net, Pakistan and China, under the framework of CPEC are making huge endeavours in the agricultural sector, especially in the field of cotton research. A number of factors are responsible for this enhanced cooperation; geographical proximity and similar weather conditions as two of them. A number of Pakistanis are working with Chinese in the field of biotechnology through which new varieties of cotton are being developed which are weather and pest resistance.

Pakistan-China cooperation program on cotton improvement is underway, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Tuesday.

“While Pakistan is still struggling to cope with the problems of insect pests, diseases, fiber quality and yield in the cotton industry, China has already made a significant breakthrough to overcome these problems long ago, said agriculrure scientist Muhammad Shahid Iqbal.

Shahid is currently working as a Ph.D. scholar on the program initiated by Cotton Research Institute (CRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in collaboration with Cotton Research Institute Multan, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, and several Pakistani agriculture universities. He is part of the Pakistan-China joint research program aimed at cotton improvement especially for fiber quality and yield, which is beneficial to both countries.

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OFC project Phase II set to transform Pakistan as a Digital Gateway of regional connectivity

The Executive Committee of the National Econom­ic Council (ECNEC) has approved Rs 37.9 billion worth Pak-China Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) Project Phase II under CPEC. The project will provide an alternate path for internation­al connectivity through the Northern Border of Pakistan with China and would transform Pakistan as a Digital Gateway of regional connectivity.

ISLAMABAD – The Executive Committee of the National Econom­ic Council (ECNEC) has approved Rs 37.9 billion worth Pak-China Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) Project Phase II.

According to a report by Gwadar Pro, the project will pave the way for establishment of Cross-Border OFC net­work (Khunjerab-Karachi) along China Pakistan Econom­ic Corridor (CPEC) routes.

 

The project will provide alternate path for internation­al connectivity through Northern Border of Pakistan with China and would transform Pakistan as a Digital Gateway of regional connectivity. The COVID-19 response and oth­er Natural Calamities Control Program was approved by the ECNEC at the cost of Rs 70 billion as federal share.

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Bahawalpur to be included in CPEC via Sukkur-Multan Motorway

Punjab Energy Minister Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik while addressing traders of Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) said that proposal of including parts of Bahawalpur region into CPEC are under consideration. It will be linked with Sukkur-multan Motorway. He was of the view that this development will prove to be a catalyst in boosting socioeconomic activities in the region.

BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government is seriously considering a proposal to link parts of Bahawalpur division with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to boost the trading and commercial activities in this region of south Punjab.

This was stated by Punjab Energy Minister Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik while addressing traders here on Saturday.

The minister said the Punjab government was examining a proposal to link Rahim Yar Khan Khan, Bahawalpur, Chishtian and Bahawalnagar through Kasur and Lahore with the CPEC.

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The agriculture sector becomes an area of prime importance under CPEC

Considering the massive potential in the bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector, the Pakistani Ministry of food security initiated the preparation of the plan to include agriculture projects in CPEC. Chairman CPEC authority, Asim Saleem Bajwa said that the plan will include technology transfer/import package of seed and agriculture mechanisation, anticipated investment from China and capacity development of agriculture scientists, and must be approved from the federal cabinet.

LAHORE: Pakistan is preparing a plan to include agriculture sector projects in the Chinese-funded corridor building framework, it was learnt on Friday.

Ministry of food security initiated the preparation of the plan as part of the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, according to an official document available with The News.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (CPECA) has already emphasized the need to prepare an agriculture plan under the CPEC framework.

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Kuwait keen to invest in CPEC

While terming CPEC a game-changer,  Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, during a meeting with Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister of Asian Affairs Ambassador Ali Suleiman Al-Saeed, said that it would bring prosperity to the whole region. Kuwait’s delegation was breifed about prospects of CPEC by Pakistani side during the ‘Third Round of Bilateral Political Consultations. Considering the importance of CPEC, Kuwait vowed to be part of CPEC and benefit from the increasing connectivity.

ISLAMABAD, Jan 30th (Gwadar Pro) – Kuwait has expressed its interest in investing in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related projects as Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister of Asian Affairs Ambassador Ali Suleiman Al-Saeed concluded his visit to Pakistan on Friday afternoon.

Pakistan had on Wednesday invited Kuwait to participate in CPEC. In a meeting with Ali Suleman Al-Saeed, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said CPEC was a game changer. FM Qureshi said CPEC was beneficial not only to Pakistan but also for the whole region.

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Pakistan Navy contracts advanced warship from China

ming to enhance Pakistan’s maritime defense and deterrence capabilities, Pakistan Navy has contracted the construction of four advaced warships i.e Type 054A/P frigates from China. The launch was held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy said that these warships will boost the potency of Pakistan Navy by equipping it with modern surface, subsurface and anti-air weapons, sensors and combat management systems.

 

BEIJING: China launched the second Type 054A/P frigate for Pakistan on Friday in Shanghai which will significantly enhance Pakistan’s maritime defense and deterrence capabilities, according to a Global Times report published Friday.

The launch of the second Type 054A/P frigate was held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.

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Date : 
Friday 5 February 2021
Author : 
Admin
Source : 
Globbiz Admin
Tag : 
China Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC Projects,