No obstacles in way of Pakistan-China friendship to be tolerated,PM Shehbaz
Pakistan, China agree on CPEC’s centrality for socioeconomic uplift; resolve to realise shared objectives,
Islamabad_Pakistan and China have signed six agreements and memoranda of understanding for the promotion of bilateral cooperation.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the visiting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Islamabad on Monday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated on Monday that Pakistan and China were all-weather friends and iron brothers and he would not tolerate any obstacles in its way.
He expressed the view while addressing a ceremony where he, along with visiting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, witnessed signing of agreements and MoUs for promotion of bilateral cooperation.
“The documents signed today are aimed at further strengthening economic relations between the two countries,” he said.
Pakistan and China on Monday, expressing satisfaction at the steady development of CPEC projects in Pakistan, agreed on its centrality for Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
The bilateral ties including the CPEC were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and He Lifeng, Vice Premier of China and Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
At the invitation of the Government of Pakistan, the Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping He Lifeng is visiting here to attend the 10th-anniversary celebrations of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Both sides expressed their firm commitment to continue working together for realizing the shared objectives of the CPEC.
It was also agreed that 10th anniversary of CPEC celebrations constituted a fresh starting point to further expand CPEC as envisaged by the leadership of the two countries.
The conversation was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality that has been the hallmark of Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on several aspects of bilateral relationship including CPEC and bilateral economic and financial cooperation.
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.
He said the CPEC was enter the second phase, which will envisage investments in sectors such as agriculture and information technology.
He said Pakistan was ready to contribute towards Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of shared destiny of progress and prosperity. He said both ML-1 and Karachi circular railway projects were of immense importance, expressing the confidence that both the sides will successfully achieve these and many other projects. He was confident that this will help Pakistan stand on its own feet.
He also vowed to emulate the Chinese model of development to achieve peace and prosperity in the country.
Pakistan and China have signed six agreements and MOUs for promotion of bilateral cooperation. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission of People’s Republic of China signed the document on the joint cooperation committee of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The second document signed by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission of People’s Republic of China was related to the establishment of an experts 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 Karakoram Highway Phase II project feasibility study.
The two sides also signed through diplomatic channels the MOU on Industrial Workers’ Exchange Program. The two sides agreed to promote the strategic ML-1 project.
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz shared a tweet to welcome the Chinese vice premier and members of his delegation to Pakistan.
“It is my pleasure to warmly welcome the Chinese Vice-Premier H.E. He Lifeng and members of his delegation to Pakistan,” he wrote.
“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,” Mr Sharif added.
Local holidays had been announced in Islamabad for July 31 and August 1. The announcement of the public holiday was made with the approval of the chief commissioner.
