Punjab, Chinese province to promote trade ties, says Shahbaz

LAHORE: A delegation headed by Member of Central Committee of Communist Party of China and Party Secretary of Jilin province Bayinchaolu called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Monday. Matters of mutual interest, bilateral relations, promotion in economic and trade cooperation between Punjab and Chinese province Jilin, increasing working relationship in agriculture, industry, science and technology, auto industry and various sectors were discussed. The meeting agreed on the steps to promote bilateral cooperation in various sectors to keep close contact in future.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said a new era of economic relations between Pakistan and China had started in the tenure of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Referring to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the historic economic package given by China is a gift for Pakistan. He said that under CPEC, a huge sum of $33 billion had been allocated for energy projects and projects under CPEC had been started in Punjab. He said that construction of 1,320 megawatt coal power project in Sahiwal had been started and would start production of electricity in 2017.
Similarly, he said, 900 megawatt solar project was being set up in Bahawalpur which would be completed in 2016. He said the government wanted to benefit from the skill and experience of Jilin province in agriculture, auto industry, railway, metro train, manufacturing of commercial vehicles, agro-based industry, training of students and students could be sent to Jilin for training in engineering and other sectors.
He offered industrialists of Jilin associated with auto industry to set up manufacturing units in Punjab and assured that provincial government would extend all-out cooperation in this regard.
He said there should be maximum exchange of delegations of two provinces for the promotion of bilateral relations and benefiting from each others’ experiences. Member of Central Committee of Communist Party of China and Party Secretary of Jilin province Bayinchaolu said that Punjab had made a lot of progress under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and he was serving the people with commitment.
He said that economic and trade relations between Jilin and Punjab in agriculture, industry, science and technology, education and other sectors would be promoted and there should be maximum exchange of delegations for this purpose. He said that relations between Communist Party of China and PML-N should be expanded and delegations of both the parties should visit each other’s country. Bayinchaolu invited Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to visit Jilin province. The chief minister accepted the invitation and said he would visit Jilin province in near future.