ISLAMABAD: The Belt and Road Economic and Trade Center (BRETC) will provide Pakistan with a “one stop solution” for joint ventures with Chinese companies, a Pakistani adviser for the newly inaugurated platform said this week.
BRETC was officially launched this week in Changshu City, a key hub in the Yangtze River Delta economic zone in Jiangsu Province. Among the platform’s core objectives is facilitating joint ventures, providing project and trade financing, and helping BRI partner countries access China’s market. The center features dedicated country display zones and liaison offices for key partners, including Pakistan, Jordan, Nigeria and others.
BRETC adviser, Moin Ul Haque, a former Pakistani ambassador to China, said the platform would serve as a “one-stop platform for trade, investment and cultural exchanges, facilitating deeper integration between China and partner countries” like Pakistan.
“The basic purpose of setting up the center was to provide a platform for the countries which are members of Belt and Road for their business connectivity, to improve, to facilitate international trade, to provide a one stop solution for joint ventures with Chinese companies,” he was quoted by Pakistani state news agency APP as saying at the inauguration of BRETC.
The center will provide Belt and Road partner countries with free office space for three years, a free display corner and legal support, and help them set up business branch offices in China.
It will also serve as a platform to enable Belt and Road countries to procure Chinese exports, including commodities and advanced technologies.
Ibrahim Munir, the chairman of the IBI International Group, which initiated and funded BRETC, spoke about the reasons he chose the newly built High-Tech Zone in Changshu as the location for the center.
“It gives you all solutions when it comes to business. It has all kinds of industry – textiles, solar manufacturing, biotech and name of any industry you can have it here,” Munir said.
“And also, the connectivity toward the ports, Changshu port and Suzhou port and Shanghai port. It’s all in one solution, 2ZA3 BXQ and also the incentives, the government policy for the businesses is perfect.”
He said BRETC aimed to connect with over 30 countries and had already engaged with more than 20 to discuss future collaborations and shared visions.
Once put into operation, the center will offer comprehensive solutions spanning bilateral bulk trade, supply chain management, engineering procurement and construction (EPC), transfer-operate-transfer (TOT) projects, production line setup and financing services for both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) engagements.
Pakistan hopes for more joint ventures with China through newly inaugurated BRI trade center
https://arab.news/4r2rs
Pakistan hopes for more joint ventures with China through newly inaugurated BRI trade center
- Belt and Road Economic and Trade Center was officially launched this week in Changshu City
- Center features dedicated country display zones and liaison offices for BRI member nations
Pakistan assembly speaker warns opposition against anti-state remarks in parliament
- Ayaz Sadiq says criticism of judiciary and armed forces will not be allowed on assembly floor
- He calls violence during protests unacceptable, vows neutrality as National Assembly speaker
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Saturday that opposition lawmakers would not be allowed to speak against Pakistan, the judiciary or the armed forces on the floor of parliament, calling such remarks unacceptable.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the eastern city of Lahore, Sadiq said parliamentary debate must remain within constitutional and legal limits, while reiterating his commitment to act impartially as speaker.
“No one will be allowed to speak against Pakistan, the judiciary or the armed forces on the floor of the National Assembly,” Sadiq said. “Negative or controversial remarks about judges or the armed forces are unacceptable.”
His comments come amid heightened political tensions after opposition groups held protests in the past, criticizing state institutions and targeting government and military properties.
The speaker said peaceful protest was a democratic right but drew a sharp line at violence and vandalism.
“Protest is the right of every citizen in a democratic society, but it must remain peaceful and within the bounds of the constitution and the law,” he continued, adding that arson, damage to property and the use of sticks or weapons in the name of protest were “unacceptable” and posed a threat to the rule of law.
“No opposition lawmaker will be allowed to speak on the National Assembly floor if they speak against Pakistan,” Sadiq said.
The speaker also noted the country’s economic indicators were gradually improving, citing an increase in foreign exchange reserves, and said Pakistan had further strengthened relations with countries including the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
