STORY: China-funded forest flourishes in Pakistan's Gwadar as symbol of friendship
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 18, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:12
LOCATION: Islamabad
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Gwadar
2. various of the China-Pakistan friendship forest
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG RUILEI, Head of COPHC greening project
4. various of the China-Pakistan friendship forest
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG RUILEI, Head of COPHC greening project

STORYLINE:

As one of the pillar projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Gwadar Port in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province has been operated by China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC) since 2013.

A greening project funded by COPHC has turned the once-barren land just a few yards away from the bustling Gwadar Port into a vibrant forest.

According to Wang Ruilei, who was in charge of the greening project at COPHC, more than 4,000 trees have been planted in the Pakistan-China friendship forest under the joint efforts of the two sides.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG RUILEI, Head of COPHC greening project
"The friendship forest used to be a rubbish dump. After we came here, according to the local climate, we selected arbors, shrubs and other tree species with windproof and sand fixation functions, and planted them. In recent years, through the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, thousands of plants suitable for this tropical arid region have been planted. The China-Pakistan friendship forest fully embodies the concept of green development in Gwadar Port."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG RUILEI, Head of COPHC greening project
"The friendship forest not only provides a very beautiful natural landscape and improves the local natural environment, but also, more importantly, promotes local employment. In addition, we also pass on Chinese advanced techniques to the local people, such as cuttage, grafting, planting methods to increase the yield of giant Juncao grass, the timing of weeding and fertilizing, and so on."

Launched in 2013, CPEC, the flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation in the first phase, while in the new phase expands to fields of agriculture and livelihood, among others.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Islamabad.
(XHTV)