Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that “Pakistan is absolutely ready to contribute towards Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of the shared destiny of progress and prosperity.”
The premier made these remarks during the signing ceremony of six agreements and MOUs for the promotion of bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz said that the documents signed by the two countries are aimed at further enhancing economic relations between the two countries.
He added that under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), more than $25 billion worth of investment has taken place in Pakistan's power and hydel sector, road infrastructure and public transport.
Read China dignitary's visit set to energize CPEC progress
Shehbaz maintained that "we are now entering the second phase of the CPEC which will envisage investments in sectors, such as, agriculture and information technology."
He added that both ML-1 and Karachi circular railway projects are of immense importance, expressing the confidence that both sides “will successfully achieve these and many other projects". He was also confident that this will help Pakistan stand on its own feet”.
The premier said both Pakistan and China enjoy a unique relationship, adding that "we are all-weather friends, iron brothers and this friendship will continue and will not tolerate any obstacles in its way".
Pakistan, China sign agreements, MoUs
The two countries have signed six agreements and MOUs for the promotion of bilateral cooperation.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the vice chairman of the National Development and Reforms Commission of the People's Republic of China signed the document and the signing ceremony took place at the PM House.
PM Shehbaz and the Chinese vice-premier witnessed the ceremony.
The first document was signed on the joint cooperation committee of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the second document was related to the establishment of an expert exchange mechanism within the framework of CPEC.
The third document was signed by the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security Zafar Hassan and the Chinese Charge D’Affaires Pang Chunxue for the export of dried Chillies from Pakistan to China.
Member Planning of National Highway Authority Asim Amin and Chinese Charge D’Affaires Pang Chunxue signed the fourth document on the realignment of the Karakoram Highway Phase II project feasibility study.
The two sides also signed through diplomatic channels the MOU on Industrial Workers' Exchange Program and agreed to promote the strategic ML-1 project.
He receives warm welcome
Earlier in the day, Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng was accorded a welcome as he arrived at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad to meet with PM Shehbaz Sharif.
On his arrival, the premier received the foreign dignitary at the main entrance of the PM House.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, has arrived at the Prime Minister House, Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister @CMShehbaz @PakPMO @Marriyum_A #DecadeOfCPEC @CathayPak https://t.co/DlAuLO75Uq pic.twitter.com/k16iiu67pE
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) July 31, 2023
Later, he introduced his delegation to the Chinese vice-premier comprising federal cabinet members Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Railway Minister Saad Rafiq, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Fatemi.
Read More China’s vice premier to join CPEC celebrations
This followed the introduction of the Chinese delegation to the premier by the visiting dignitary.
At the invitation of the government of Pakistan, the special envoy of President Xi Jinping, the vice premier of China and member of the Politburo of the central committee of the Communist Party, is visiting Pakistan to attend the 10th-anniversary celebrations of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
PM Shehbaz took to Twitter and said it was a pleasure to “warmly welcome the Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and the member of his delegation to Pakistan”.
“They are visiting Pakistan to join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of CPEC and witnessing first-hand the transformations brought about by this game-changing initiative,” he wrote.
It is my pleasure to warmly welcome the Chinese Vice-Premier H.E. He Lifeng and members of his delegation to Pakistan. They are visiting Pakistan to join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of CPEC and witnessing first-hand the transformations brought about by this…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 31, 2023
China’s Vice Premier and one of President Xi's close aides, He Lifeng, arrived in Islamabad a day earlier on a three-day visit to mark not only 10 years of CPEC but to discuss the next phase of the flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project.
He Lifeng, 68, was named in March as a key government official overseeing China’s economy.
Read More Pakistan, China reinforce commitment to CPEC
In his new role as the vice premier, He oversees everything from industrial policy to trade negotiations. He spent the past five years as the leading central planner of China’s economy.
The Chinese vice-premier has played a prominent role in China’s international economic relations and implementation of the BRI, of which CPEC is a flagship project.
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