Beijing: Global Times, a Chinese tabloid, on Sunday stated that the delay in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects due to the virus outbreak would not affect Beijing’s confidence in the multi-billion dollar initiative, a news source reported.
The publication stated that COVID-19 pandemic would not slow down the collaboration between China and Pakistan on CPEC. It added that both sides recently finalised an agreement pertaining to the Kohala Hydropower Project, which is Pakistan’s largest foreign investment within the power sector.
Earlier, CPEC Authority Chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa said that the pace of CPEC projects had picked up and much of the groundwork to start CPEC Phase II was complete.
According to Global Times, CPEC would allow China to showcase its Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) benefits and help Pakistan improve its infrastructure, along with providing better livelihoods to its people. It added that the pandemic, along with any consequential delay in CPEC projects would not impact China’s confidence for moving forward with the initiative.
The publication opined that while the pandemic has created serious economic problems, this only proves that why initiative like CPEC are important. It added that these projects would boost regional economic conditions and provide jobs in the upcoming years.
