Pakistani ambassador speaks at infrastructure forum in Macao

At the invitation of the China International Contractors Association, Pakistani Ambassador Moin ul Haque participated in the opening ceremony of the 11th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum in Macao on Wednesday.

Speaking on the theme of "Challenges and Opportunities: Outlook on International Infrastructure Development in post-COVID-19 era", Haque praised China's positive economic growth, which was reflective of its effective pandemic control and prudent economic policies. He expressed confidence that China would continue to drive global economic growth and recovery after the pandemic.

Haque noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had changed the modes of life and work, and new modes of infrastructure investment would play a key role in post-pandemic recovery.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as one of the most prominent and successful flagship projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, had laid a sound foundation for modernization of Pakistan's economy. In the next phase, the convergence of traditional and digital infrastructure would be essential for unleashing the potential for growth in diverse areas such as agriculture, science and technology, industrial relocation and vocational training, Haque said.

CPEC's growth and success had highlighted the centrality of modernizing infrastructure to achieve sustainable development goals. Haque called on enterprises and private capital to play a greater role in enhancing international connectivity alongside governments, financial institutions and multilateral development banks.