Inviting third parties to CPEC attests to transparency, openness: Ambassador Haque.

BEIJING -- Pakistan and China agreed to welcome and encourage international investment and introduction of advanced technologies and expertise in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from third parties who were ready to work with the two countries for common development, Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin Ul Haque said on Tuesday.

"Inviting third parties to join the CPEC is consistent with international best practices and also attest to its transparency and openness," he said in an interview with Global Times on "iron brothers"A relations, the CPEC and his take on China's development.

Ambassador Haque said that both Pakistani and Chinese governments had consistently rejected malicious propaganda against the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the CPEC.

"It is sad that some sections only view the BRI from the narrow prism of geopolitics and glibly ignore its potential for socio-economic development and prosperity of the entire region," he added.

Responding to a question about the biggest challenges facing the construction of the CPEC at this moment, he said that Pakistan and China remained committed to the fast-track development of the CPEC with special focus on industrial relocation, agricultural modernization, science and technology cooperation, job creation and the socio-economic well-being of our people.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years, all CPEC projects have continued unhindered.

The 10th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee held in September 2021 and subsequent meetings of specialized Joint Working Groups reviewed wide-ranging cooperation under the CPEC framework.

" A new Joint Working Group on Information Technology and Industry has also been established to support high-quality development of the CPEC as envisioned by the leadership of the two countries," he added.

He assured that Pakistan would continue to extend all possible assistance to the Chinese companies working on CPEC projects and would closely partner with China to remove all challenges for its steady development.

To yet another question, he said that it was the cardinal principle of the foreign policy of Pakistan to develop friendly ties with all countries and make concerted efforts for global peace and prosperity.

"Pakistan regards the US as an important country with whom we enjoy strong ties in diverse fields of cooperation; we want to broaden this relationship on the...