The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an open and inclusive platform and both China and Pakistan would welcome all countries and international organizations to participate in the construction of the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve common development, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Zhao Lijian said on Monday.
He said, “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an open and inclusive platform. China and Pakistan welcome any efforts that support the Belt and Road Initiative and the building of CPEC.”
During his recent visit to Turkiye, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Turkiye to take part in the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project and stated he was ready to discuss the issue with Chinese leadership if Turkiye moved forward with the idea of joining the flagship project. They spoke at a joint press conference in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Zhao Lijian stated in his remarks that both the Chinese and Pakistani sides would welcome nations and international organizations that were ready to join the CPEC flagship project as an open and inclusive platform and a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“We hope countries and international organizations that are ready to conduct mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve common development,” he added.
He said that these countries and organizations may join CPEC in the proper manner to benefit from Belt and Road cooperation.
It is important to note that the CPEC, a BRI pilot project that focuses on collaboration in the Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure, and industries, was introduced in 2013.