China calls for a united front by Pakistan's political parties for success of CPEC

China has urged all political parties in Pakistan to put up a united front for the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and attainment of the 'shared goal of development'.

"Political parties in Pakistan have divergent interests. We hope that the political parties can work together to resolve their differences and make CPEC a success," Zheng Xiaosong, Vice Minister of International Department, Central Committee, The Communist Party of China (CPC), said in a lecture at the Pak-China Institute.

According to Dawn, Zheng, met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party and invited them for a visit to China.

China has been giving a lot of importance to CPEC, which is the flagship project of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative, which is why CPEC's success is being viewed as a key to the future of the Belt and Road project that has drawn a lot of international interest.

Critical views of some of the Pakistani political parties on certain issues related to CPEC have, therefore, been a cause of concern for the Chinese leadership.

Zheng explained that it was natural for CPEC, a project with "long timeline" and one that is a "corridor of strenuous endeavours", to face issues from time to time and readily offered the Chinese government's help to Pakistan for dealing with those issues.

"We are ready to work with Pakistan for consensus and strive jointly for the way forward," he said.

The Chinese minister emphasised the need for public support for guaranteeing "safe and stable environment for investment" and developing "sound political and public opinion" for the project.

Dispelling the perception that CPEC was benefiting some of the provinces more, Zheng maintained that it was for "entire Pakistan".

Touching upon the concern about India and some of the other countries conspiring against CPEC, he said project's success would be the best response to its opponents.

Asserting that a "high level of political trust" was the feature of longstanding ties between the two nations, Zheng assured that his country would remain Pakistan's strong ally and would continue extending support to it on the issues of its core interest.