China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at the regular press conference on December 28, that Indian media reports that China seems to be gradually abandoning its initial funding commitments to Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor [CPEC] are groundless. He said as "an important BRI pilot project, the CPEC has maintained a positive development momentum since its launch in 2013. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, its projects have insisted on no withdrawal, no layoffs, and no shutdown. Some key projects have been delivered or opened for operation, providing Pakistan strong support to fight the epidemic and stabilise the economy". He added that on December 25, 2020, a second meeting of the CPEC International Cooperation and Coordination Working Group was held in Xinjiang. Other working group meetings under the CPEC framework were held successively preparing for the joint committee meeting. He stressed that China and Pakistan are determined to promote CPEC’s construction; its prospects are bright. Zhao Lijian also disclosed that "in a context of world economic recession, China's overall investment in the BRI including the Israel-China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has not decreased, but has grown". "In the first three quarters of this year, China's non-financial direct investment in countries along it increased by nearly 30% year-on-year. China has provided assistance and support within its capacity to many countries jointly building the BRI to fight the epidemic and restore their economies".
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