ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday said that Pakistan is fully prepared to play a role in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of a shared destiny of development and prosperity.
His comments came after he witnessed the signing ceremony of six agreements and MoUs between Pakistan and China aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng – who is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan – was also present on the occasion.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and Vice Chairman of China’s National Development and Reforms Commission signed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Joint Cooperation Committee document.
The second document, which was signed by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reforms Commission, was related to establishing a mechanism for the exchange of experts within the framework of CPEC.
The third document was signed by Secretary Ministry of National Food Security Zafar Hassan and Chinese Charge d’Affaires Peng Chunxu to export dried chillies from Pakistan to China.
National Highway Authority Member Planning Asim Amin and Chenxu signed the fourth document related to the rescheduling of the Feasibility Study of the Karakoram Highway Phase II project.
The two sides also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial Workers Exchange Program through diplomatic channels.
Both sides agreed to promote the strategic ML1 project.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the purpose of the documents signed today is to further promote economic relations between Pakistan and China.
The Prime Minister said that more than twenty five billion dollars have been invested in Pakistan’s power and hydel sector, road infrastructure and public transport under CPEC.
He said that we are now entering the second phase of CPEC, which envisages investment in sectors like agriculture and information technology.
He said that both ML-1 and Karachi Circular Railway projects are of great importance, expressing confidence that both parties will successfully achieve this and many other projects.
He believed that this would help Pakistan stand on its own feet. He said that we will emulate China’s development model to achieve peace and prosperity in the country.
The Prime Minister said that both Pakistan and China have unique relations. He said that we are all-weather friends, iron brothers and this friendship will continue and will not tolerate any obstacle.
