Pakistan, China to promote cooperation: CM 

Says visit to China very fruitful;
CPEC has taken Pak-China ties to new heights

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that his recent visit to China has been very useful and the meetings with Chinese leadership, prominent leaders of Communist Party of China, ministers, Chinese investors and industrialists have been very fruitful and it was agreed upon to promote development cooperation between China and Pakistan.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday. Matters regarding agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for economic development signed during the chief minister's recent visit to China were discussed in the meeting. 

The Chinese ambassador congratulated Shahbaz Sharif on his successful visit to China. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that his recent visit to China had been very useful and the meetings with Chinese leadership, prominent leaders of Communist Party of China, ministers, Chinese investors and industrialists had been very fruitful and it was agreed upon to promote development cooperation between China and Pakistan.

He thanked Chinese leadership, Communist Party of China and business community for the warm welcome and full cooperation in China. He said that the respect and honour given to him during the visit could never be forgotten. He said that senior Chinese leadership and Communist Party of China expressed deep love and confidence during the visit. Shahbaz Sharif said that deep-rooted friendly relations between China and Pakistan were turning into strong economic ties due to mutual contact and the peoples of the two countries were benefitting. He said that exchange of visits between China and Pakistan was opening new avenues of economic cooperation and progress and a large number of Chinese companies were taking interest in investment in Pakistan especially Punjab due to splendid investment opportunities available in the province.

He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was of vital importance for national development and it had taken Pakistan-China friendship to new heights.

He said that this project would result in progress and prosperity not only of Pakistan but of the entire region. He said that completion of this project would result in creation of job opportunities, promotion of trade activities and economic prosperity. 

The chief minister said that Pakistan-China friendship was a precious asset of people of Pakistan and the fact that Pakistan was being considered among the emerging economies at world level was a proof of good governance and exemplary planning for which credit goes to the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his successful economic policies. 

The Chinese ambassador appreciated the comprehensive measures taken by the Punjab government for economic progress and infrastructure development and said that the trend of Chinese companies for investment in Pakistan especially Punjab was increasing due to conducive atmosphere of investment. He said that mutual trade and industrial cooperation was also growing between the two countries. He said that due to trade friendly policies of the government, Chinese companies were giving preference to Pakistan for investment.