Pakstan Prime Minister Abbasi @ Davos: CPEC is most visible part of Chinese Belt & Road Initiative

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CPEC is most visible part of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, says PM Abbasi

Dawn.comJanuary 24, 2018
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Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaks during session on "Belt and Road Impact". —APP

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaking at World Economic Forum's session on "Belt and Road Impact". —APP

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaks during session on "Belt and Road Impact". —APP

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaking at World Economic Forum's session on "Belt and Road Impact". —APP

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaks during session on "Belt and Road Impact". —APP


Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while speaking in 'Belt and Road Impact' session of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, said the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would link together a series of countries, regions and civilizations to create shared prosperity.

Abbasi said Pakistan is the most visible part of the BRI because of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and that the project would result in freer movement of people and greater cultural interaction between the countries, Radio Pakistan reported.

Referring to CPEC, which is part of BRI, the prime minister said projects under the initiative include power plants, highways, modernisation of railways and ports, construction of airports and setting up of economic zones for export growth.

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The results of CPEC related projects have already started appearing as our cement plants produced 56 percent additional capacity and exports grew by 15 per cent, Abbasi was quoted as saying.

He said CPEC is also boosting confidence of the investors and Pakistan is getting a lot of investment in addition to CPEC. "Apart from financial sustainability, these projects are indicative of Pakistan being a more responsible global citizen as far as environment is concerned," he said.

The prime minister said the development of ports and highways, Pakistan can provide much more efficient connectivity to most of Central Asian countries, which are landlocked.

Abbasi thanks Bill Gates
Prime Minister Abbasi later met Bill Gates, Co-Chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, at the World Economic Forum. Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and other government officials were also present.

PM Abbasi meets Bill Gates.


Abbasi reportedlythanked and appreciated the support provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Pakistan, particularly for the Polio Eradication Programme. He discussed avenues of partnership in health, education and other social sectors with Gates.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and empowerment of farmers through financial and digital inclusion was also discussed during the meeting.

 

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Abbasi assures world CPEC would be financially, environmentally sustainable

Addressing the WEF, Abbasi alongside OBOR linchpins stated CPEC results are already coming through
By SHAHBAZ RANA
Jan.24,2018
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday assured the world community that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects would be financially and environmentally sustainable and would be open to all for investment.

“We will ensure that these projects do not create distortions and will be inclusive and open to all,” said PM Abbasi while speaking at a panel discussion on the ‘Belt and Road Impact’.

The panel discussion took place during the second day of the 48 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, which is taking place at Davos.

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Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Jin Liqun, Caixin Global Managing Director Li Xin, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, AECOM CEO and Chairman Michael Burke, Singapore Minister Chan Chun Sing and China National Machinery Industry Corp Chairman Ren Hongbin participated in the panel discussion.

There was greater enthusiasm among the panelists and the audience about the opportunities that the Belt and Road Initiative offers to the Euro-Asian countries.

CPEC is an integral part of China’s strategic initiative that promises shared prosperity to all the participating nations.

The prime minister did emphasise that the BRI must contribute towards local community and assure job creation.

He said that CPEC has enabled Pakistani contractors to undertake mega road infrastructure projects, which was not possible five years ago.

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The BRI initiative is perfectly linked with the 2018 WEF theme of “shared future in a fractured world”, said the prime minister.

Abbasi said that the BRI is indeed about creating shared future among the participant countries.

“Pakistan is the integral part of the BRI,” Abbasi said, adding, “BRI is much more than infrastructure projects.”

“With the help of the Belt and Road initiative, Pakistan has gained investors’ confidence to a great extent and investment is also coming outside the CPEC projects.”

The prime minister also assured that the CPEC projects will be financially viable and environmentally sustainable.

He said the roads and ports connectivity provide greater opportunity to landlocked Central Asia to connect with the rest of the world.

“Pakistan through its port development can provide much more efficient connectivity to most of Central Asia. Complementary policies and greater utilisation of resources will eventually create much greater financial stability,” he said.

The efficiency gains from the clean energy and infrastructure building outpaced the cost of the CPEC projects, added the prime minister.

Abbasi said it was imperative that those projects remain inclusive.

“Of course, there are bilateral constraints but they should be available to local players,” he stated.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Jin Liqun underlined that his bank would finance only those projects of the BRI that are financially viable, environmentally sustainable and more importantly the local community own them.

“The AIIB will not finance the white elephant projects,” said Liqun.

He said there were 48 AIIB member countries and all of them fall on the BRI; therefore, were natural partners.

The AIIB president said, “The protectionism is a reality of today but the connectivity will reduce the protectionism.”

Liqun said that even though the US was not a member of the BRI, the AIIB was engaging with the US companies.

Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev said that the BRI was a solution to the fractured world. He said that the Chinese strategic initiative has offered tremendous opportunities to the Euro-Asian countries.

AECOM CEO and Chairman Michael Burke said that the 60% population of the world was living in the region of the BRI and the largest ever infrastructure projects in the world history would provide greater opportunities to these countries to address their infrastructure deficiencies.

But Burke said that the size and scale of the BRI suggests that no single country can meet these huge obligations and there is a need of collaboration.

Singapore Minister Chan Chun Sing said that the BRI will not only address connectivity issues in the short term but will also capitalise the economy of the participating nations.

“China is helping the world to a common destiny for mankind, this will be a tremendous opportunity for China to show the kind of power it wants to be in the next economic phase,” a panelist added during the discussion.


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CPEC's results already coming in, says PM Abbasi at Davos

January 24, 2018
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By Web Desk
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Pakistan









DAVOS: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stated on Wednesday that the results of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have already started to come in.

Speaking at a session titled 'The Belt and Road Impact' at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Abbasi said CPEC is about developing infrastructure, power plants, airports, seaports, highways and special economic zones for export growth.

Sharing the results of the over $56 billion CPEC, Abbasi said the cement industry has grown by 56 per cent while exports are up by 15 per cent, adding that the project has resulted in the creation of "great investor confidence".


PM Abbasi reaches Davos to attend World Economic Forum
Abbasi will interact with heads of states and governments in a special session of the IGWEL


The prime minister also said that despite establishing coal plants under CPEC, the net effect on the environment will be positive through replacement of older, less efficient oil-based power plants.

"CPEC ismuch more than just creating infrastructure on ground," he added.

Talking about foreign investors in CPEC, the premier said there is a need to ensure that the projects are inclusive and open to all investors with the same level playing field that’s available to local players.

"Pakistan can provide connectivity to most of land-locked Central Asia," he stated.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a global infrastructure project of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The session is being attended by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Jin Liqun, Caixin Global Managing Director Li Xin, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, AECOM CEO and Chairman Michael Burke, Singapore Minister Chan Chun Sing and China National Machinery Industry Corp Chairman Ren Hongbin.

During the session,AIIB president Li said they support lots of projects in Pakistan.

The other speakers also delved on the role of infrastructure projects vis-à-vis protecting the environment and also the need for political certainty for sustainable development.

PM Abbasi among the other panellists. Photo: Weforum.org
Earlier, upon arrival at the Zurich airport, the premier was received by Pakistan's Ambassador in Switzerland Ahmad Naseem Warraich and senior government officials.

Abbasi will also participate in a number of important events and hold bilateral meetings with key world leaders, as well as chairpersons and CEOs of fifteen leading multinational organisations from the US, Europe, China, and Japan, according to the APP.

He will interact with heads of states and governments in a special session of the Informal Group of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL).

 

[Indus Pakistan]

What does this image expose? The inferiority complex and cultrural enslavement of Chinese by the West. Look non of the Chinese have pride in their culture, country and society to wear their traditional clothes.

However look at PM of Pakistan who shows courage, pride, sense of confidence in his culture and country against the West.

 

[MultaniGuy]

What does this image expose? The inferiority complex and cultrural enslavement of Chinese by the West. Look non of the Chinese have pride in their culture, country and society to wear their traditional clothes.

However look at PM of Pakistan who shows courage, pride, sense of confidence in his culture and country against the West.

I thought the other day you said people do not have to wear traditional clothes in a international context.

I thought you said even Japanese wear western business suits. lol.

If Mr. Abbasi wears traditional clothes thats good. It shows cultural pride.

 

[Pangu]

What does this image expose? The inferiority complex and cultrural enslavement of Chinese by the West. Look non of the Chinese have pride in their culture, country and society to wear their traditional clothes.

However look at PM of Pakistan who shows courage, pride, sense of confidence in his culture and country against the West.

When on business events, that's how we dress. It is simply a biz cultural, nothing more or less.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

I thought the other day you said people do not have to wear traditional clothes in a international context.

Satire.

 

[Hareeb]

Missing parchi wala PM.

 

[MultaniGuy]

Satire.

Personally I see nothing wrong in wearing traditional clothes. When Mr. Abbasi wore traditional clothes I feel happy about it. We should feel proud of our culture.

 

[Khanate]

What does this image expose? The inferiority complex and cultrural enslavement of Chinese by the West. Look non of the Chinese have pride in their culture, country and society to wear their traditional clothes.

However look at PM of Pakistan who shows courage, pride, sense of confidence in his culture and country against the West.

Cultural pride aside, grey is a really bad colour for a business outing. This is 101 I/O psychology.

 

[Clutch]

Cultural pride aside, grey is a really bad colour for a business outing. This is 101 I/O psychology.

Looks pretty business like to me....

Clothing aside.... Don't know why the conversation has focused on the PM clothing...

I think the PM did a better job at Devos promoting Pakistan... Compared to the flop Modi da Dhoti.

 

[Pakistansdefender]

Not a single Pakistani reporter at Davos....
Not a single coverage of the pakistani pavilion.
What kind of groceries this....
Why is bilawal Bhutto there.
Imran Khan is equal 10 of them ifit comes to making speech ....if you have to take opposition do take Imran Khan.
A person who has never been outside his house or know pakistani cultures and traditions is going to lecture on pakistan.

If you only let imran Khan explain the war pakistan has fought and the consequences we bear because of that war....
He would do 100 times better job then our forign office.

 

[Shahzaz ud din]

CPEC is most visible part of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative: Pakistan

 

[GeraltofRivia]

Satire.

You can still find plenty of them in TV series and opera house. Like this one:

We have moved to something that is considered to be more appropriate in modern society.