BEIJING, China: The First Meeting of the Political Parties Forum on CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) was held in Beijing.
The meeting was organized by the International Department of the CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi along with the Minister International Department of the CPC Central Committee H.E. Mr. Song Tao co-chaired the forum. The foreign minister and the minister IDCPC also delivered their keynote speeches.
While addressing the forum, Qureshi said that the forum would further enhance mutual understanding and reinforce our collective commitment to create a favourable environment for CPEC. He added that the platform would further strengthen the consensus between Pakistan and China and reinforce our time-tested bilateral relations.
Welcoming the foreign minister, Song Tao said that CPEC is the flagship project of BRI and the forum would enhance people-to-people contacts and apprehend new trends for people-centric development in the region.
The Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan Muhammad Qasim Khan Suri, the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, and Chairman Senate CPEC Committee Senator Sherry Rahman led delegations of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) respectively.
The Governor Balochistan Province Amanullah Khan led a combined delegation of political parties from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including representatives of Awami National Party (ANP), National Party (NP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Balochistan National Party (BNP), PPP, PTI and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
Representatives from IDCPC, NDRC, EXIM Bank, SOEs, think tanks and media also attended the forum from Chinese side.
During the forum, stakeholders from both sides exchanged in-depth views on the development of CPEC and its future trajectory.
The Deputy Speaker National Assembly Muhammad Qasim Khan Suri, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Senator Sherry Rehman, Governor Balochistan Ammanullah Khan, Jan Mohammad, Province Omar Ahmadzai, Shagufta Malik, Mohammad Akbar, Nasrullah Khan Barach, and Mahmood Ahmad shared views from Pakistan side.
Participants of the Forum expressed fullest support to the upcoming Second Forum of the Belt and Road Initiative that will be held in Beijing next month.
At the end of the forum, all stakeholders unanimously adopted ‘Beijing Declaration’.
The participants reiterated their unwavering commitment to CPEC. They agreed to further enhance intra-party exchanges, discussions and cooperation. They rejected negative propaganda against CPEC, which is an inclusive project of win-win cooperation, mutual development and prosperity.
The next meeting of the Forum would be held in Pakistan.
