ISLAMABAD: Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Abdul Rauf Alam has said that China is eager to support all the undeveloped countries of the world, including Pakistan, while its model of supporting needy nations is better than western model, as it does not attach strings to aid. The China-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce (CPEC) project is a game changer and the most popular project in the history of Pakistan, which is being taken very seriously by the government and army. “We are highly grateful to the Chinese leadership who preferred Pakistan over other nations for the fate-changing project,” Abdul Rauf Alam said while speaking at Silk Road expo and conference held at the ancient Chinese city of Xi’an in which over 100,000 businessmen, diplomats and around 6,250 companies participated. The FPCCI president said that Silk route exists for 2,000 years and it has connected millions of people across Asia, Africa and Europe besides helping in transfer of knowledge, art, education and culture. He said that the route was there before the time of Jesus Christ but it gained new prominence during the reign of Tang Dynasty with Xi’an as its capital, where this important event is taking place. “Now the Chinese leadership is modernising the route that would unleash a new era of progress and prosperity, which is evident from bilateral trade worth $999 billion in 2016 with countries linked to Silk route,” he added. Alam noted that modern transportation networks have replaced the old Silk Road, allowing goods to travel across the Eurasian continent in just days or hours. He said that Pak-China trade has reached $18 billion after signing of a free trade agreement (FTA), which would further increase soon while Pakistan would get billion in transit and improved international image. He added that reservations over the project among some elements of Pakistan and other countries are unfounded. Around 80 to 85 percent oil reaches to China through Strait of Malacca while the same strait is used for trade with Europe, Middle East and Africa but the same trade through Pakistan will not only reduce route by six thousand kilometer but also ensure security of the goods. He said that China has almost become an economic and military power while Pakistan is considered as the most-trustworthy ally. “Thanks to the Silk Road expo, we have opened our eyes to see huge business potential while a lot is yet to be discovered,” he said.During the expo, 108 contracts worth $28 billion were signed between Chinese and foreign companies.