Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called on the Vice Minister of International Department of Communist Party of China Zheng Xiaosong in Beijing today.
During the meeting, different matters of mutual interest including promotion of Pak-China relations, extension of mutual cooperation in different sectors and strengthening of contacts between Pakistan Muslim League-N and Communist Party of China came under discussion. On the occasion, Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang played an important role in making China as the second largest economic power in the world. He said that the theory of socialism and the historic heritage of China were behind the present progress of the nation. He said that China cooperated with Pakistan and proved its friendship when Pakistan was bearing the brunt of terrorism and energy crisis by standing by its side. He said that Chinese friendship is a very precious asset of every Pakistani. Both the countries are partners in development and prosperity, he added.
China has given hope of a peaceful and prosperous future to the world under President Xi Jinping, Shehbaz Sharif said. He added that he congratulates the Chinese leadership over the holding of one belt one road (OBOR) project and that due to OBOR, China would be able to develop coordinated contacts with other countries of Asia, Europe, and Africa. He said that completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would change the course the region.
CPEC, CM said, is a great gift of the Chinese President, Prime Minister and the government to Pakistan and the Pakistani nation could never forget this historic gift. The CPEC projects are a harbinger of Pakistan’s progress and prosperity and exhibit growing economic relations between the two countries. This project would also produce job opportunities and eliminate the trend of fanaticism as well, he added.
The CM said that Pakistan and China are moving shoulder to shoulder in the journey towards development. The present day leadership of Pakistan gives due importance to its relations with China. He said that Pak-China friendship is higher than the Himalayas, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel. The Chinese leadership, he added, has expressed its trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that peoples of China and Pakistan are linked with bonds of mutual respect and love. He said that a positive impact of CPEC has already started to show in Pakistan.
He said that China has supported Pakistan at diplomatic, political and international level.
Zheng Xiaosong commended the development in Punjab and the vision of the chief minister. He said that work is being carried out rapidly on CPEC projects in Punjab under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif. He added that he is greatly impressed by the speed of the work carried out in the CPEC projects in Punjab; he dubbed this speed as “Punjab Speed”. He said that Punjab has made exemplary progress under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif and that his programmes and steps for public welfare are revolutionary.
Vice Minister Communist Party of China said that although Chinese nation is very hard working Shehbaz Sharif is more working than the Chinese.
