Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese Deputy Prime Minister 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 (PML-N).
The Chinese deputy prime minister 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.
The Chinese deputy PM also expressed good wishes for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said that the whole Chinese leadership is praying for his early recovery.
Shehbaz Sharif 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 utilised for the betterment and prosperity of the masses.
Shehbaz meets Exim Bank chairperson:
Meanwhile, the chief minister also met Exim Bank of China Chairperson Hu Xiaolian in Beijing on Monday. The chairperson paid historic tributes to the speed of implementation of projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). 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.
The chief minister, while talking to Chairperson Exim Bank, said that Pak-China friendship has become an example all over the world and that 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 in Punjab. He thanked Exim Bank for timely provision of funds for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.
Chief Minister 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 (PML-N). 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 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. He said earlier Pakistan and China were mere friends but now their relations have gone even further.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistani people, government and army are on the same page against terrorism, adding 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.