Will welcome any country interested in joining CPEC: Pak PM Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Islamabad will welcome any country interested in joining the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Sharif conveyed this to Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during his meeting held yesterday.

Asserting that CPEC would usher in an era of prosperity in Pakistan and beyond, he said that the future of the people of the entire region was linked with the project.

Sharif, who is presently on an official to Turkmenistan, said the ties between both countries are being strengthened with the passage of time.

Both leaders exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, reports The Express Tribune.

Agreeing with Sharif on the importance of CPEC, the Turkmenistan President said that progress and prosperity for the entire region would be guaranteed by this multibillion-dollar project.

He praised the Prime Minister for the steps taken to strengthen Pakistan's economy.

Sharif on his part proposed to hold a high-level meeting every year in Islamabad and Ashgabat.

Matters related to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and re-establishing air links between the two countries were also discussed by the two leaders.