China eager to support under-developed countries: FPCCI

ISLAMABAD: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Abdul Rauf Alam has said that China is eager to support all the undeveloped countries of the world, including Pakistan while there model of supporting needy nations is better than western model  because they don’t attach strings to aid.

The CPEC project is game changer and the most popular project in the  history of Pakistan which is being taken very seriously by our government and Army. We are highly grateful to the Chinese leadership which preferred  Pakistan to other nations for the fate-changing project.

Abdul Rauf Alam said this while speaking at Silk Road expo and  conference at ancient Chinese city of Xi’an, in which over one hundred thousand businessmen, diplomats and around 6,250 companies participated. He said that Silk route exists since 2,000 years, and it has connected  millions of people across Asia, Africa and Europe and helped transfer of knowledge, art, education and culture.

He said that the route was there before Christ, but it gained new prominence during Tang Dynasty with Xi’an its capital where this important event is taking place.Now Chinese leadership is modernising the route which will unleash a  new era of progress and prosperity which is evident from bilateral  trade worth 999 billion dollars in 2016 with countries linked to Silk route. Modern transportation networks has replaced the old Silk Road, allowing  goods to travel across the Eurasian continent in just days or hours, he  noted.

Abdul Rauf Alam said that Pak-China trade has reached to 18 billion  dollars after FTA, which will increase soon while Pakistan will get  billions in transit and improved international image. He added that reservations about the project among some elements of Pakistan and other countries are unfounded Around 80 to 85 percent oil reaches to China through Strait of Malacca  while the same strait is used for trade with Europe, Middle East and  Africa, but the same trade, through Pakistan, will not only reduce route  by 6,000 kilometres but also ensure security of the goods.

He said that China has almost become an economic and military power  while Pakistan is considered as the most trustworthy ally. Thanks to the Silk Road expo, we have opened our eyes to see the huge  business potential while a lot is yet to be discovered, he said.