LAHORE: After lifting 770 million of its people out of poverty, China is ready to share this experience and its resources with other countries, particularly Pakistan, to fight against destitution across the world, said acting Consul General of China in Lahore Peng Zhengwu on Sunday.

Beijing’s development policy is based on three pillars -- respecting sovereignty of each other, united development, and focus on peoples’ prosperity, he said at a seminar on Communist Party’s 100 years and Pak-China Saga organised by the Institute of International Relations and Media Research.

He said phase II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was focused on agriculture cooperation and industrialisation in Pakistan, while students, academic and cultural exchanges would be re-initiated after the menace of Covid-19 is controlled fully.

Peking University’s Urdu Department Director Dr Zhang Jiamei said China as a peaceful country was forging ahead for peace and prosperity of all. On Covid-19 spread and deadliness, she said that only respecting science and joint cooperation without any prejudice, could cope with the pandemic.

Foreign affairs expert Muhammad Mehdi underlined the need to dispel the impression of CPEC slowdown, saying the impetus may be given by invoking the long pending JCC meeting and melting ice on the all-important ML-1 railway project. Economic and strategic partnership demands further galvanisation to let people feel better, he added.

PU Pro-VC Dr Saleem Mazhar acknowledged the role of CPC in developing China and liberating a huge number of people from poverty.

PU’s Prof Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi called for furthering cooperation in the agriculture sector and relocating Chinese manufacturing sector to special economic zones in Pakistan. He said Pakistan also enjoyed a huge potential for religious tourism and Chinese people may be encouraged to avail this next-door facility.

PU Film and Broadcasting Department chairperson Prof Lubna Zaheer believed if CPEC is steered perfectly, Pakistan’s fate is destined to change.

Senior analysts Adnan Khan Kakar and Luqman Sheikh also spoke.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2021