KARACHI: The following is the full text of speech delivered by Li Bijian Consul General of China at Karachi, at the CPEC Industrial Cooperation B2B Investment Conference.
“Your Excellency Mr. Khalid Mansoor, PM Advisor on CPEC, Your Excellency Abdul R. Dawood, PM Advisor on Commerce and Investment Your Excellency Mr. M. Azfar Ahsan, Minister of State & Chairman of BOI, Your Excellency Mr. Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, Chief Secretary, Sindh, Excellencies, Officials, Members of Business community of China and Pakistan, Members of Media, Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen,?Good morning to you all,
Asalam Alaikum, it’s a great honour for me to attend CPEC Industrial Cooperation B2B Investment Conference. First of all, I’d like to extend, on behalf of the Consulate of China in Karachi, our warmest congratulations to you all. We are especially grateful to the efforts by BOI and its team to make this event a grand reality despite of many logistical and organizational hurdles.
Excellencies, Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen, With the joint efforts by both sides, the first phase of CPEC has recorded remarkable achievements and made tremendous contributions to the social and economic development of Pakistan. The first phase features the infrastructure cooperation, like power and energy, road and transportation, etc. Most of the projects were implemented under the guidance of G2G framework.
The second phase of CPEC has already started and shall focus on the industrial, agricultural and social-economic cooperation. B2B shall be the main feature of cooperation for the second phase, and the business community of both countries especially the private business are the key players at this regard.
Excellencies, Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen, Thanks to the better geological locations, vast population, fine infrastructures like highways, railways, sea ports, skills, expertise and experience in developing industrial zones, and the bustling economic growth, Sindh province has better placed to attract more foreign investment and conduct greater B2B cooperation.
This region has become the home of many projects in the first phase of CPEC like Tharparkar power projects Block I & II, Qasim and Hub power plants, many wind farms and solar mills, and M5 express way etc., and it is firmly believed that Sindh province will play an even bigger role in the second phase of CPEC.
Excellencies, Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen,?Investment is a two way love affairs and a tango of two, or disco of many, requires the steady joint efforts, dedication and support. From the angel of the investors, they shall have better understanding of the relevant policies, laws and regulations of doing business on this land of Pakistan, choose better and reliable partners, carry out on the spot study tours and be aware of the possible risks and sorting out solutions before making decisions on investment. From the angel of the host country Pakistan, the relevant Federal and Provincial departments are requested to further ease of doing business, especially effectively addressing the hurdles of policy trends and orientation, custom clearance, tax holidays, foreign exchange and remittance, labor training, land acquirement, facility and utility providing, security protection, visa facilitation, and providing of one-window service etc.
Excellencies, Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen,?Government of China always attaches great importance to further strengthening the existing all weather bilateral relations and cooperation with Pakistan, and our commitment to CPEC is strong and lasting. Based on the present work and efforts, my Consulate is ready to work even more closely with the concerned Federal and Provincial authorities to further promote and facilitate the bilateral trade, investment and cooperation, encourage more Chinese companies to explore the investment opportunities in Pakistan, especially in Sindh, provide more policy advice to the Chinese business community, assist the Pakistani counterparts to conduct investment roadshows in China, etc.
May this conference a complete success.?Pakistan-China Dosti Zindabad!” – Courtesy: Shine News China.
