Pakistan-China friendship: Lahore, Chengdu to be declared twin cities, says CM

Shahbaz says several agreements will be signed during Chinese president’s visit.

LAHORE:

An agreement declaring Lahore and Chengdu twin cities would be signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.

“The agreement will help promote tourism and strengthen economies of the two cities,” he said during a meeting with a delegation led by Chengdu Mayor Tang Lianghzi.

The chief minister welcomed a proposal for operating a flight service between Lahore and Chengdu. He favoured setting up working groups to enhance cooperation in education, health, tourism and economics. He said the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project would be completed with China’s help.

Sharif said agreements for projects costing billions of dollars would be signed during the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan. These include a $20 billion agreement related to the energy sector, he said. He said the agreements would take the Pakistan-China relationship to the new heights.

“Xi’s visit will promote the economic activity in Pakistan. Investments from China will help develop various sectors. These will help rid Pakistan of energy crisis,” the chief minister said.

He said various power projects, being completed with help from China, would start producing electricity in 2017. He said Chinese investments were a gift for Pakistan.

Tang said the Pakistan-China friendship was “everlasting”. He said declaring Lahore and Chengdu twin cities would strengthen ties between the two countries.

Tang said he was visiting Pakistan for the first time and that he was impressed by the beauty of Lahore.

The mayor invited the chief minister Punjab to Chengdu.

Chinese Consul General in Lahore Yu Boren, Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed, MNA Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khwaja Ahmed Hassaan, the Planning and Development Board chairman and the secretaries of Local Government, Industries, Higher Education and Information Department were also present.

Metro Bus Service

Sharif said the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus project would be inaugurated soon. He said the project would prove a milestone in the country’s history. He was chairing a meeting to review progress on the project. He said 175,000 people would travel daily by the Metro Bus Service.

Separately, officials from several investment companies of China called on the chief minister. They discussed cooperation in energy, transport and infrastructure development.

Mayor rides Metro Bus

Tang and his delegation travelled on a Metro Bus from Ittefaq Hospital to Minar-i-Pakistan. DCO Muhammad Usman apprised the mayor of the bus project and historical buildings along the route.

Tang also visited Badshahi Masjid, Lahore Fort and Lahore Museum. He later attended a luncheon at Governor’s House.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2015.