BRI and CPEC will expand: President Arif Alvi

Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will expand as he visited the Chinese embassy here to condole the death of three Chinese nationals in a recent terrorist attack in Karachi.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting at the Chinese embassy, the President emphaisised that friendship between the two countries was enshrined in the brotherly relations of the citizens of Pakistan and China.

He opined that losing the three Chinese brothers in Karachi attack was like losing some relatives in Pakistan.

The President stressed upon the need to destroy the nefarious terrorist designs that wanted to discourage China from helping Pakistan and expansion of BRI and the CPEC.

“Pakistan had been very successful to defeat such designs but Karachi terrorist attack still took place which is very painful. We assure that the culprits involved in the attack would be brought to justice, besides, we will improve the safety of the Chinese nationals,” he remarked.

Earlier, at the Embassy of China, the President offered his heartfelt condolences over the loss of precious lives of Chinese nationals in a terrorist attack that took place in Karachi on April 26.

In a meeting with the Chinese Charge d’ Affaires, Pang Chunxue and officers of the Chinese Embassy, the President mentioned that the entire Pakistani nation was in deep pain and shock over the unfortunate incident and shared the grief of Chinese brothers and sisters.

He reiterated the resolve that Pakistan would leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and bring to justice the elements involved in this heinous incident.

Condemning the incident, the president contended that the anti-CPEC elements wanted to harm Pakistan-China friendship and the CPEC but they would not succeed in their designs as both countries enjoyed deep friendship and were strongly committed to further strengthen the all-weather friendship.

He requested the charge d’ affaires to convey his heartfelt condolences to the Chinese people, Communist party and President Xi Jinping.

The charge d’ affaires thanked the president for visiting the embassy and expressing solidarity with the people and government of China.

She maintained that both countries had shared future and had a long history of friendship and close cooperation. She condemned the attack and hoped that the culprit behind this incident would be apprehended and punished. Later, the president wrote remarks in the visitor’s book of the embassy.