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New York, 22 October 2021
“The China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the revival of the ancient Silk Road will strengthen infrastructure connectivity and build a shared future for the peoples of the region” he expressed his hope during a virtual event entitled Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Transport for Global Development Briefing.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Munir Akram, the Permanent Representative of the Pakistan at the United Nations, congratulated government of the People's Republic of China for successfully convening, these two important meetings, and bringing them to a successful conclusion. He hoped that: “The development of ecological civilization, proposed by the Chinese president could guide us on a path of sustainable development in which both man and nature”.
He urged all developed countries “to follow the footprints of China, to ensure predictable adequate and concessional finances for developing countries to meet climate goals, and the eye, biodiversity targets”.
While informing Pakistan’s contribution to global biodiversity efforts, using its own financial resources so far, Ambassador Munir Akram informed this august forum that: “Our 10 billion trees tsunami is the largest reforestation vibe in the history of our country. It is aimed to increase biodiversity and promote green stimulus to our economy”. “Pakistan has embarked upon various infrastructure development programs to enhance regional connectivity, improve the efficiency of transport and trade, logistics, our vision is to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and modern means of communications, which effectively supports the economy, and acts as a catalyst for the socio-economic growth of the country,” he said further.
“Pakistan is committed to the UN agenda for Road Safety national road safety strategy, which was approved in 2018 is being implemented. Oh, and will save many lives. In order to achieve these objectives,” he reiterated.
Mentioning Pakistan’s collaboration with China in China's Belt and Road Initiative, the flagship project of the Belton Road initiative, he said that “The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is one of the largest rail and road connectivity projects in the world”. “We'll be opening the Gwadar Port, and its use for transit trade with Central Asia and China” he informed further.
“The project for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor will serve the prosperity and progress of the entire region, we are heartened by the possibility of restoration of peace in Afghanistan, which will increase the level of connectivity of these adjacent regions of Asia.
In his opening remarks, the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun mentioned that President Xi Jinping attended the leaders’ summit of Cop 15 and the opening ceremony of the sustainable transport conference and delivered important remarks. At the leaders’ summit of cop 15, President Xi expanded the Legion of building a community of all lives. He proposed to build a homeland of harmonious coexistence between man and the nature of coordinated advancement of the economy and the environment, and of common development of all countries. This has set the ground goal for global biodiversity conservation.
Other keynote speakers, including H.E. USG Mr. LIU Zhenmin, H.E. CBD Executive Secretary Ms. Elizabeth Mrema and Chinese Ministers, including Mr. Zhao Yingmin, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Minister for Transport of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Dai Dongchang, briefed member states on the two Conferences and their key outcomes, illustrating their significance to global environmental governance and sustainable development, as well as the political impetus they brought to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
This event was focused on the Conservation of Biological Diversity (CBD); the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) on biosafety protocol & the 2nd UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference. The briefing was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of China, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and Conservation of Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat.