PM assures foolproof security for Chinese

Shehbaz speaks with Li; Chinese premier assures PM of trade expansion

ISLAMABAD:

Premier Li Keqiang assured his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, of his country’s readiness to enhance bilateral economic cooperation, expand trade and encourage greater investments from China to Pakistan, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a handout on Monday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held telephonic conversation with Premier Li and discussed matters pertaining to the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Shehbaz assured Li that his government was determined to take all necessary measures for the enhanced security and safety of all Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. He said that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into the Karachi suicide bombing and apprehend the perpetrators.

Shehbaz offered his condolences to the government and people of China and expressed sympathies with the families of victims of the suicide bombing at Karachi University in which three Chinese teachers and their Pakistani driver died April 26.

Shehbaz said that his government was determined to take all necessary measures for the enhanced security in Pakistan. He added that Pakistan attached the highest importance to the safety, security and protection of all Chinese nationals in Pakistan working on economic projects and institutions.

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The handout stated that the talks between the two leaders were marked by the traditional warmth and cordiality, which was the hallmark of Pakistan-China relationship. The two premiers agreed that both the countries would not allow anyone to harm the bilateral.

Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked China for its firm support to Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national development and reaffirmed his government’s unwavering support to China on all issues of its core interest.

He affirmed his government’s firm resolve to fast-track both the ongoing as well as the new projects under the transformational CPEC, which had immensely contributed to the socio-economic development of Pakistan and also realised its high-quality development.

The prime minister underscored the need for both sides to work together and enhance cooperation between the agencies concerned of the two countries to fully operationalise the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) at an early date, the handout read.

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Meanwhile, recalling the Pakistan-China sister-city partnerships, the prime minister expressed his desire to learn from the experience of those Chinese officials, who had remained instrumental in setting up SEZs in the provinces.

Shehbaz also expressed his commitment to working with renewed zeal and enthusiasm, in concert with China, especially on projects of strategic significance for both the countries, such as the Main Line (ML)-1 railway line project. Shehbaz also underlined the importance of enhanced people-to-people contacts.