3rd CPEC Media Forum held in Islamabad
Source : Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) Date : 28-11-2017
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The third China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum was held in Islamabad on 27 November 2017 in Islamabad. The event was organized by the Pakistan-China Institute, led by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan. It was the third media forum that was arranged to promote news exchanges and collaborative partnership between the media personnel of the two countries.
In his address of welcome, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed congratulated the Chinese leadership for successful holding the 19th National Congress of Communist Party of China. Its outcome has set pace of future development and prosperity for the entire world. About the CPEC’s high significance, he said it was launched at time when no other country of the World was ready to invest in Pakistan. He announced that Pak-China Institute will soon hold media’s workshops at the regional levels to highlight the far-reaching benefits of the CPEC.
Newly designated ambassador to Pakistan, His Excellency Yao Jing said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major priority for Chinese leadership, and he would put his best efforts to get it implemented in a letter and spirit. While speaking as chief guest at CPEC Media forum he said he was looking forward to make his contribution in making the CPEC a best symbol of Sino-Pak cooperative partnership.
Yao who was delivering his first speech at any public forum after his appointment as new ambassador to Pakistan, said it was his proud to be in Pakistan, since the people of this country are very close to his heart. After presenting his credentials to the President of Pakistan in a few days, he said he would start his official engagements and wished to maintain close interaction with the media friends, seeking their support to take full advantage of the CPEC’s opportunity and keep the people aware of its enormous benefits.
The envoy expressed his pleasure that the CPEC’s implementation was going on fast-track. He said he is confident that the people of Pakistan will be major beneficiary of this initiative. It is also a source of prosperity and peace for the entire region, CPEC’s ownership goes to the people of Pakistan and its other stake-holders, he added.
Yao spoke high important about role of the media, noting that Pakistani media has always been positive towards China. He proposed that the media’s representatives should be invited to visit CPEC’s projects, enabling them to see themselves its implementation process and socio-economic impact on the local people.
He assured that he would have regularly interaction with media to seek support in carrying forward their collaborative socio-economic partnership. The embassy of China, he added will keep facilitating the media in promoting the Sino-Pak friendship.
During his long diplomatic career, Yao said Pakistan has always been most important for him, and he will fulfill his new responsibility for the country’s well-being with devotion and commitment.
Chief Executive of China Economic net Wang Xudong in his key-note address hoped that the forum will provide them a good opportunity for promoting media-to-media relationship. The CPEC is drawing world’s attention and getting popular among the Chinese people, he added. He put forth a number of recommendations to make the media’s cooperation more effective.
Those who addressed the inaugural ceremony included senator Azam Swati and senator Lt. Gen(Retd) Abdul Qayyum.
Senator Azam Swati said that the CPEC is an extraordinary opportunity for the two countries’ to make their socio-economic partnership more strong and ever-lasting. “CPEC is a mother of economic revival in Pakistan “ he remarked.
Senator Abdul Qayyum eulogized Sino-Pak friendship, and noted that after 1965’s war, when Pakistan was facing restrictions from the West, China came forward to help them in strengthening their security potential. BRI is a good example of globalization and the CPEC is going to be game-changer,resulting in the economic uplift of the whole region, he added.
The second working session titled “Corridors, Culture and Connectivity” was addressed by the renowned academicians from China, Professor Tang Mengsheng of Peking University and Professor Li Xiguang of the Tsinghua University who elaborated the importance of cultural connectivity in context of CPEC. The session was also addressed by the Coordinator CPEC from the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, Hassan Daud. Daud gave a very insightful presentation on the progress of projects under CPEC and also shed light on the latest JCC meeting held on 21st November in Islamabad. He apprised the audience that the main pillars of the Long Term Plan of CPEC are Connectivity, Energy, Industrial Cooperation, Agricultural Cooperation, Tourism, enhancing people’s livelihood and financial cooperation. He further stated that Pakistan has emerged as a success story because of CPEC.
Speaking in the session, Senator Afrasiab Khattak emphasized the need for promoting close trade and economic ties with regional states especially with Iran and Afghanistan.
The session on “promoting information corridor for strengthening CPEC” was addressed by eminent journalists of China, Mr. Meng Xianglin and Ms. Wang Lin. Ms. Wang Lin from China Business News said that CPEC is changing Pakistan’s image abroad and other countries are keenly looking at the progress made by the country. She further stated that the media of two countries should encourage direct reporting instead of relying on second-hand news. Other prominent speakers for the session were Dr. Shahid Rasheed, the Executive Director of CPEC Centre of Excellence, PIDE and Mr. Asif Salahuddin, the Editor in Chief of the Independent News Pakistan.
The session was followed by a very enlightening and informative interactive discussion of the panelists with the Pakistani journalists. Answering a question, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Zhao Lijian said that the Pakistani Government made a good deal to get 9 percent share of the Gwadar port. He said that Gwadar port will start earning profits after nine years and Pakistan will get 15% income from the port.
In the concluding session, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed launched two research reports of the Pakistan-China Institute on Facts Vs Fiction of and on the impacts of CPEC on the energy sector.
The event was attended by eminent parliamentarians, journalists, representatives of think-tanks and the Chinese Corporates.
