Economic corridor will be a game changer, says Shahbaz Sharif

Peoples Institute for Foreign Affairs of China delegation meets CM

LAHORE: The Pak-China economic corridor is a game-changer for Pakistan, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.

He was talking to a Chinese delegation, led by Peoples Institute for Foreign Affairs of China Executive President Lu Shumin.

“Pakistan and the whole region will benefit from the Pakistan-China corridor project,” he said.

Economic, cultural and political relations between Pakistan and China were discussed in the meeting. The chief minister and Lu Shumin agreed that joint efforts would be continued for complete elimination of terrorism.

“China is a very sincere and trustworthy friend of Pakistan. The economic package announced by the Chinese president for Pakistan is unprecedented. Ties between Pakistan and China have turned into strategic economic cooperation. The Chinese leadership has achieved development goals through untiring efforts and unprecedented vision,” he said.



He said that Pakistan was facing a severe energy crisis. “A total of $33 billion has been allocated for energy sector in the economic package. The projects will be completed quickly,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif said the Chinese economic package would help eliminate terrorism and extremism. “Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created in the country. The enemies of peace will be defeated through development and prosperity,” he said.

He said that socio-economic measures were essential for eliminating terrorism and extremism. The chief minister said that an institute would be set up in Lahore for Pakistani students learning Chinese language. “The teachers for the institute will be hired from China,” he said.

Lu Shumin said that cooperation in economic, education and health sectors would be further strengthened. “There is great potential in Pakistan and the Pakistani people,” he said. He invited the chief minister to visit China.

Peoples Institute for Foreign Affairs of China Vice President Peng Keyu, Provincial Ministers Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada, Hameeda Waheeduddin, MPAs Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, former ambassador Khalid Mehmood, Consul General of China Yu Boren, Deputy Consul General Wang Daxue and Consular Attache Zhai Yinglin were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2015.