Beijing Sep 10 (IANS) China on Monday said it will extend the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the west of Pakistan.

China has already invited Afghanistan -- west to Pakistan -- to join the CPEC. Iran which is located further west has expressed interest in joining the project.
The over $50 billion project -- a key component of Beijing s Belt and Road programme -- is opposed by India as its planned route goes through the disputed Kashmir region.
"The two sides will advance the CPEC. In light of Pakistan s economic development and its people s need we will identify the pathways and cooperation for the CPEC " said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.
"We will accelerate the industrial cooperation and projects of people s livelihood extend the CPEC to the western area and make more people to benefit from it " he said.
The CPEC envisages to link China s Kashgar in Xinjiang to Pakistan s Gwadar port.
Geng was replying to a question about Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi s three-day visit to Pakistan last week during which he met the country s new leadership.

--IANS gsh/soni/mr