STORY: Pakistani official optimistic about blossoming China-Pakistan cooperation
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 16, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 18, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:21
LOCATION: KUNMING, China
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the forum
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AHSAN IQBAL, Pakistan's minister for planning, development, and special initiatives
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AHSAN IQBAL, Pakistan's minister for planning, development, and special initiatives

STORYLINE:

A Pakistani official expressed optimism about China-Pakistan cooperation, saying it will continue to create opportunities and boost development prospects for Pakistan.

Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan's minister for planning, development, and special initiatives, made the remarks Monday in an interview with Xinhua. 

He was attending the Third China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Development Cooperation in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AHSAN IQBAL, Pakistan's minister for planning, development, and special initiatives
"Pakistan really cherishes its great friendship with China, which has a long history. It is (an) all-weather friendship and this friendship has never seen any low point. It has only grown stronger with (the) passage of time. And if we describe this friendship as a garden, this garden has never seen autumn. It has always seen seasons of spring with new flowers of cooperation blossoming.
In the second decade of the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, we will be able to take our partnership and the area of socio-economic development to new heights, and will bring fruits for the people of Pakistan in terms of more opportunities, job creation and better prospects for their development."

The minister added that Pakistan sees the blue economy as a new area of growth and looks forward to working with China in this field.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AHSAN IQBAL, Pakistan's minister for planning, development, and special initiatives
"Pakistan has greatly benefited from the Belt and Road Initiative, which has helped Pakistan overcome its energy shortages, which has helped Pakistan modernize its infrastructure. But now Pakistan is focusing on blue economy as the new area of future growth and development.
China has rich experience. China has many initiatives in which China has been able to develop new technologies and new applications in this area. And therefore, we look forward to working with China to promote the blue economy. And I appreciate China's approach to sharing its development journey with other countries."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China.
(XHTV)