- Chinese Shandong’s vice governor offers declaring Punjab and Shandong ‘twin provinces’
- Exim Bank assures provision of resources for Sino-Pak projects on priority basis
Talking to Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting in Great Hall, Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli has expressed willingness to set up a high level committee under his chairmanship for the supervision of under-construction development projects with Chinese investment in Pakistan.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistani Ambassador in China Masood Khalid, Special Representative of Prime Minister Zafar Mehmood, Advisor on Health Khwaja Salman Rafiq and Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hasaan were also present on the occasion.
Chinese VP Gaoli said that he will personally monitor the projects being implemented with Chinese cooperation in Pakistan and the proposed committee will include senior officials of financial institutions and different departments of China. He said that various development projects are being executed in different countries with the cooperation of China but the cooperation of China with Pakistan is unprecedented.
The Chinese VP further said that China is extending full cooperation to Pakistan in energy, transport, infrastructure, health and other sectors. He said that China- Pak Economic Corridor will establish economic and trade contact of Pakistan not only with China but 60 other countries as well. He also extended good wishes for Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for his efforts for the welfare of the masses.
TWIN PROVINCES:
In the meanwhile, Chinese Shandong’s vice-governor has offered Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to declare Punjab and Shandong twin provinces.
The vice-governor held a meeting with the CM and tabled the offer. Shahbaz Sharif has welcomed the offer saying that “Punjab could learn a lot from the act”.
The CM said that joining Shandong with Punjab is an honour for Pakistan. Punjab could learn a lot from the development in the Chinese province, he added.
Shahbaz is on a visit to China with a provincial-level delegation.
In the meanwhile, the president of Exim Bank of China has assured to provide resources for Sino-Pak projects on priority basis. He gave the assurance during a meeting with Punjab CM in Beijing on Tuesday.
The two sides agreed on providing resources to the Chinese companies investing in Pakistan. Shahbaz Sharif said that he was personally monitoring the projects launched by China in Pakistan. He said no compromise will be made on transparency and standard of the projects.
