BEIJING, March 17 -- The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will help revitalize the global economy, curbing trade protectionism and enhancing connectivity, Masood Khalid, Pakistani ambassador to China, told Xinhuanet in a recent exclusive interview.

The ambassador said that he is expecting a high-level participation from Pakistan in the forum.

“Being part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan is interested in topics such as connectivity, infrastructure and liberalization of trade,” he said.

The ambassador noted that China is a major driver of global trade and is playing an important role in the international community in facing challenges such as terrorism, climate change and trade protectionism.

He also praised China’s remarkable accomplishment in poverty reduction, and said that China and Pakistan are cooperating well in this particular area.

“One example of that is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through which employment will be generated in both Pakistan and China,” he said.

In particular, China’s western region will benefit from it as the CPEC passes through it and will connect it with Gwadar, he added.

“It is a project of win-win cooperation which will benefit the people of the two countries,” the ambassador concluded.

He also spoke highly of China’s economic growth over the past three decades.

“During the past few years, we have seen global economic recession which has affected China as well. However, it also showed how much the global economy is dependent on Chinese economy,” said the ambassador.

“A healthy and stable growth of Chinese economy, therefore, bodes well for the future of global economy,” he added.