Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today dismissed reports that the CPEC could be a debt trap for Pakistan and described the USD 50 billion project as a new form of cooperation between China and Pakistan.
Addressing a seminar on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Abbasi said the project is a reality despite reservations from different quarters.
He said Pakistan looked at the CPEC as a partnership between the two governments.
The CPEC, a flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has become a major stumbling block for the Sin-India ties.
India protested about the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) disregarding India's sovereignty concerns.
Rebutting reports that the CPEC could be a debt trap for Pakistan, he said people need to read history.
"Three years ago CPEC was unheard off but today it is a reality acknowledged by many countries. The BRI initiative of Chinese President Xi is a project for generations," he said.
"Recently, we discussed security and connectivity with Afghanistan, who also recognises the CPEC as an opportunity."
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