LAHORE: (APP) Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif met
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli in Beijing on Monday.
It was agreed in the meeting to take effective measures to promote contacts between Communist Party of China and Pakistan Muslim League-N. Chinese Vice Premier said that there is a need to explore new avenues for strengthening contacts between the two political parties and all out cooperation will be extended for this purpose.
He said that China is fully aware of the importance of Punjab with regard to economic cooperation between the two countries.
Chinese Vice Premier also expressed good wishes for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said that the whole Chinese leadership is praying for his early recovery.
Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Communist Party of China has full support of the people of the country.
He said that socialist ideology and the force of great historical heritage of China are behind the unprecedented progress of the country.
He said that all necessary measures are being taken for the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan and on the occasion of 65th anniversary of Pak-China relationship, there is a need to pledge that mutual cooperation between the two countries will be fully utilized for the betterment and prosperity of the masses.
He said that Pakistan is the best partner of China in the strategy for transfer of Chinese technology and industries and joint efforts will be made for this purpose.
Meanwhile the Chief Minister also met Chairperson Exim Bank of China Madam Hu Xiaolian in Beijing on Monday. The Chairperson of Exim Bank of China paid historic tributes to the speed of implementation of projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
She said that term Shen-zhen Speed was used for speedy completion of projects in China but now Punjab has left this term far behind and the term Punjab Speed is used in China with regard to rapid execution of projects.
She further said that Chinese investment in Pakistan will increase manifold in the days to come and a number of projects are being completed in Punjab with the investment of billions of dollars by Exim Bank.
It may be mentioned that Shen-zhen is among those cities of China where the first industrial economic zone was set up and the Chinese surprised the whole world by its speed of construction.
The Chief Minister while talking to Chairperson Exim Bank said that Pak-China friendship has become an example all over the world and it is based on honesty, trust and transparency.
He said that Chinese financial institutions are playing a historic role in the promotion of Pak-China cooperation through timely and uninterrupted completion of projects inPunjab. He thanked Exim Bank for timely provision of funds for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.
Shehbaz Sharif also met Minister for International Department of
Communist Party of China, Song Tao in Beijing who said that relations between Communist Party of China and Pakistan Muslim League-N are ideal and ties between the two parties have strengthened in the tenure of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said that exchange of delegations at the party level with Pakistan will be welcomed and it is his desire that maximum number of youth delegations of the party should be sent to China.
He assured that China will stand behind Pakistan in every hour of need. Shehbaz Sharif said that the Communist Party, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang have played a key role in making China the second biggest economic power of the world and the progress made by China is the result of hard work and sacrifices of Chinese leadership and people.
He said that 70 Pakistani boy and girl students are learning Chinese language in China and more youth delegations will soon be sent to the country. He said that he is at a loss for words to thank China for its cooperation as China played its due role at a time when Pakistan was facing terrorism and energy crisis.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistani people, government and Army are on one page against terrorism. He said that terrorists are common enemy of China and Pakistan.
The Chief Minister also delivered letters of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to Minister for Communist Party of China for the President and Prime Minister of China.
An agreement was also signed in Beijing in the presence of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for setting up an industrial park. Under the agreement, Chinese investors and industrialists will construct an industrial park in Chunian Industrial Estate in Punjab. Chinese investors in private sector will set up factories in the industrial park spreading over an area of 2000 acres.
The project will cost Rs. 20 billion. The agreement has been made between Gharibwal Cement Group and China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITC).
Shehbaz Sharif while speaking on the occasion welcomed business-to-business agreement between Pakistan and China and said that it will promote investment in private sector.
Meanwhile, Director General Chinese Ministry of Industries & Information Technology Luo Min met Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Matters regarding promotion of cooperation to accelerate industrial process and information technology were discussed in the meeting.
Chairman of an organization 300 industrial estates, Shi Rongyao also called on Shehbaz Sharif.
The Chief Minister said that all out facilities will be provided to the Chinese industrialists in setting up industries in Punjab.