Lahore, The second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is set to commence soon, heralding a new era of prosperity for the region, as per Chinese Consul General H.E. Zhao Shiren. His remarks were made during a national conference on the 73 years of Pak-China diplomatic relations, held at Punjab University’s School of Communication Studies.

According to University of the Punjab, Consul General Zhao highlighted the continued support of China in various sectors including defense, national security, mining, IT, and energy, and reiterated the commitment to bolstering educational, economic, and cultural relations between the two nations. He also mentioned the upcoming visits of Pakistan’s Federal Minister Prof Ahsan Iqbal and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to China, which aim to attract further Chinese investment.

The conference was a celebration of the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and China, with speakers noting the significant socio-economic contributions of China to Pakistan’s development. Notable attendees included Prof Dr Noshina Saleem, President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce Kashif Anwar, and Executive Director of the Center for South Asia and International Studies Dr Mahmood ul Hassan, who discussed the transformative impact of CPEC and the One Belt One Road initiative on Pakistan’s economy and its relations with China.

The event concluded with a ceremonial cake cutting to mark 73 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, symbolizing the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two countries.