Islamabad assures Beijing maximum security for economic corridor

Pakistan Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif on Wednesday assured China that there will be no hurdles in the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that maximum security has been put in place for the project.

Sharif met Chinese Vice Minister of State Security Dong Haizhou, who called on him at the General Headquarters in the garrison city Rawalpindi, the Dawn reported.

"Matters relating to bilateral interest, regional security and security of CPEC came up for discussion," according to a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Haizhou said Beijing attached great importance to its relations with Islamabad and early completion of the project would benefit Pakistan and China as well as the entire region.

The 3,000-km corridor running from the southern Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea to China's western Xinjiang region was launched in April during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Islamabad.

India has strongly objected to the CPEC, saying the corridor's route was controversial.