ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcast Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday confirmed that Pakistan has taken China into confidence over it’s decision to invite Saudi Arabia to become the third stakeholder in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal quote tweeted a message from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) official Twitter account which announced that the government has invited Saudi Arabia to join the CPEC project.
Ahsan questioned: “Has China been taken into confidence? CPEC is a bilateral project in which induction of any other country has to have concurrence of both sides.”
To this, Fawad Chaudhry responded that China has indeed been taken into confidence and that the move is beneficial for both Pakistan and China. “Yes, China has been taken into confidence, expansion of CPEC is in China and Pakistan’s interest. Pakistan will be a centre of economic activity of this region, era of darkness is over.”
Earlier this week, Fawad said that CPEC is the flagship project of multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan has invited Saudi Arabia to be the third strategic partner.
He further stated that Saudi people warmly welcomed the PM Imran Khan upon his two-day visit, adding that King Salman bin Abdulaziz has ensured that kingdom stands besides Pakistan.
Prime minister said that securing the kingdom is same as protecting Pakistan.
