China calls for stepping up efforts to build economic corridor

China and Pakistan on Tuesday called for joint efforts to step up building of the $46 billion Economic Corridor being built through <g data-gr-id="12">Pakistan occupied</g> Kashmir (POK).

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, who met with Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab Province Shahbaz Sharif here, hailed the all-weather strategic partnership between both countries, citing frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful cooperation in various fields. Zhang called on both sides to keep close coordination in building the <g data-gr-id="18">China Pakistan</g> Economic Corridor (CPEC), to make it benefit the peoples of the two countries, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The CPEC, a 3,000-km network of roads, railways and pipelines linking Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and southwest Pakistan’s Gwadar Port through POK, is a major project of China’s “One Belt and Road” initiative.

The agreement to this effect was signed during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in April this year. Overall construction costs are estimated at over $ 46 billion, with the entire project expected to be completed in several years.