Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said his government is an investment-friendly regime which would welcome Chinese investment for addressing the energy issues.
Nawaz was addressing the Pakistan-China Energy Forum which was largely attended by over 50 prominent Chinese investors.
The PM said that he was leading the government to pull the country out of the economic meltdown. He expressed the resolve to eliminate all the bottlenecks leading to investment in energy. Resolution of energy issues was the top priority of his government and they would welcome all the Chinese and foreign investment in this regard, he added.
The PM expressed the hope that the Chinese investment in energy sector would take the lead. Nawaz expressed his pleasure for addressing the top corporate leaders in the energy conference.
He said, “I have chosen China as my first destination after assuming office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan last month. I did so as we have unmatched and special friendship, which is time tested.”
The bonds of friendship between Pakistan and China together have stood the test of times and also emerged from the heavy challenges, he said, adding that irrespective of the political changes, Pakistan and China relationship have been steady and strong.
“Truly we are Iron Brothers as Premier Li has remarked during his visit to Islamabad,” the prime minister remarked.
He said Pakistan-China friendship was comprehensive and broad-based which was manifested in every field of cooperation.
Referring to issues back in the country, the prime minister said that the revival of Pakistan’s economy was the priority of his government.
He was of the view that the fundamental challenges of the country were to overcome the energy crunch which had been the greatest impediment in Pakistan’s economic recovery.
“This is daunting because of multiple challenges faced by the country today and with friend like China, we are confident that we would be able to surmount all this,” he added. In this regard, the PM said that he had already set the pace.
Nawaz also said that during Premier Li’s visit to Pakistan, they had agreed over setting up Pak-China Trade Corridor which would change the economic landscape of the region.
He said the corridor envisaged enhanced connectivity and economic relationship, also linking vast regions like China, South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East, thus broadening the sphere of cooperation and trade ties.
