Imran Khan Will Be Visiting China in November To Discuss The China Pakistan Economic Corridor

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan will be making his first trip to China in November 2018. As per reports, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the much-hyped China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) between Pakistan and China has already started and will be a major turning point in Pakistan's economic future. 

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"Hopefully next month in November the prime minister would be making his first official visit to China to discuss this further," Qureshi told a Washington audience when he was asked about reports of changes in the ambitious CPEC projects. 

"Obviously infrastructure is required. We need roads and rail links, optic fibers and everything of that sort. We want them to help us in areas like industrial development, enhancing agriculture productivity, helping us alleviate poverty in the country," he said to a question at the US Institute of Peace.

Qureshi further added that the new Pakistan government is trying to improve the working conditions of the country by providing more jobs to the people. 

"So that is an ongoing discussion and hopefully next month in November, the prime minister would be taking his first official visit to China to discuss this further," the top Pakistani diplomat said.

He also said that the CPEC won't affect their relations with the US as it will always be a major ''global player''.    

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"The US was, is and will remain an important global player. You are a technological, economic and military power. We recognize that. There's a history of our relationship. Let's not forget that," he said.

"I am of the view and Pakistan is of the view that China can play a constructive role and China must be engaged. China has initiated a trilateral meeting.. they had one in Beijing and next month in December we might have the second round in Kabul," he said.

What is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)?

• The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a huge project which is being made with an aim to stretch from the western Chinese city of Kashgar to Pakistan’s port of Gwadar, which is located near Iran and Persian Gulf shipping areas.
• This project is a major part of Beijing's broader Belt and Road Initiative. Post the 2015 Xi Jinping visit to Pakistan, on April 20, 2015, the commencement of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was made.
• The cost of the project is approximately $62 billion. As per reports, Wang said that out of 22 cooperation projects in Pakistan, nine projects have been completed so far.

(With Inputs from PTI)