ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for information Fawad Chaudhry has stated that Saudi Arabia will be the third strategic partner in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“Saudi Arabia will be the third member of CPEC, Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry has stated this while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.
The invitation was extended by the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led delegation that travelled to Saudi Arabia. It was the first diplomatic trip for the premiere.
Regarding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE), Chaudhry said that Pakistan’s main interest lies in cooperation with Saudi Arabia on matters of trade and security.
“A high-level coordination committee has been constituted to look into matters of trade and commerce and it has the complete backing of Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and PM Khan,” Fawad Chaudhry said while adding the two countries will finalise an important economic partnership during this visit.
He also announced that high-level delegations from Saudi Arabia and UAE will visit Pakistan to discuss trade and security in October. “Saudi Arabia will invest in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and will be the third big investor in the multi-billion dollar project,” Chaudhry added.
He said that Saudi Arabia is the first country that Pakistan has invited to become a third partner in CPEC and the projects that Saudi Arabia would be investing in will be smoothed out during the Saudi delegation’s visit, scheduled for the first week of October.
The information minister said that while in Abu Dhabi, the Pakistani delegation met with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Zaid and matters of mutual interest were discussed.
He added that the complications surrounding the procurement of UAE visas will soon be resolved as the matter came into discussion during this visit. “The foreign office will soon send a proposal to UAE and it is expected to resolve these issues for the thousands of Pakistanis that are dwelling in the Emirates,” Chaudhry assured. Chaudhry said that the Saudi crown prince has assured of bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.
Responding a question, Information Minister Fawad Ch. denied any deal was made in Saudi Arabia to release deposed premier Nawaz Sharif from prison as he is “not important enough for either country to make a deal over”. The information minister gave the clarification after a question pertaining to the matter was asked by a journalist. Chaudhry added that the government has “no personal” differences with PML-N and Nawaz will be sent “back to where he came from”. “We will send Nawaz back from where he came,” vowed Chaudhry. (ONLINE)
