TEHRAN (Iran News) – Ambassador of China to Pakistan said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an opportunity for regional connectivity and cooperation, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran is most welcome to join the project.
Speaking exclusively in a talk show of Urdu news channel, ‘AajNews,’ Yao Jing said that CPEC is a bilateral agreement because it is kind of a cooperation project between China and Pakistan, IRNA reported.
“But this also has a regional aspect, and even global aspects,” he noted.
The envoy added that according to the mutual understanding between China and Pakistan, CPEC should have been a kind of opportunity for regional connectivity and cooperation.
“As far as international elements are concerned, Iran is most welcome, and Afghanistan and Central Asia, too; so I think it is very relevant for the CPEC to open up for several parties,” he said.
The ambassador was of the view that the CPEC project would directly benefit Balochistan.
Earlier, in an interview with IRNA, Yao Jing had said that because of its geographical position in the region, Iran becomes a natural partner in the CPEC project.
Under the CPEC, many infrastructure projects are under construction throughout Pakistan. Originally valued at $46 billion, the value of CPEC projects is now worth $62 billion. The project will link Pakistan’s Gwadar Port to China’s Xinjiang Province.
Responding to a question in the ‘AajNews’ program, he said that the US accuses China for the spread of the coronavirus because of its failure in containing the spread of the virus, adding that COVID-19 is a big challenge to the international community.
China started research for developing a vaccine for COVID-19 in the beginning of this year, he said.
The official said that Chinese companies and research institutions have developed three kinds of vaccine that have been put to volunteer testing. China is also developing a vaccine in cooperation with Pakistani pharmaceutical companies.
- source : Iran Daily
