ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan and China on Monday signed six agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in Islamabad for promotion of bilateral cooperation in the presence of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the visiting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vice-Premier of State Council of China and Special Representative of President Xi, He Lifeng witnessed the signing ceremony of agreements/MoUs regarding cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Islamabad, today.#DecadeOfCPEC pic.twitter.com/KK2dvWCHBG
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 31, 2023
The Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission of People’s Republic of China signed the document on the joint cooperation committee of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The second document signed by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission of People’s Republic of China was related to the establishment of an experts exchange mechanism within the framework of CPEC.
The third document was signed by the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security Zafar Hassan and the Chinese Charge D’Affaires Pang Chunxue for the export of dried Chillies from Pakistan to China.
The Member Planning of National Highway Authority Asim Amin and Chinese Charge D’Affaires Pang Chunxue signed the fourth document on the realignment of Karakoram Highway Phase II project feasibility study.
The two sides also signed through diplomatic channels the MOU on Industrial Workers’ Exchange Program.
The two sides agreed to promote the strategic ML-1 project.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the documents signed today are aimed at further enhancing economic relations between Pakistan and China.
The prime minister said that investment worth more than US$ 25 billion has taken place under the CPEC in Pakistan’s power and hydel sector, road infrastructure and public transport.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addressed the signing ceremony of agreements/MoUs signed between China and Pakistan during the visit of Mr. He Lifeng, Special Representative of President Xi and Vice Premier of China in Islamabad, today.#DecadeOfCPEC pic.twitter.com/yiYvTwfZ4p
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 31, 2023
The prime minister said that we are now entering the second phase of the CPEC which will envisage investments in sectors such as agriculture and information technology.
Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is absolutely ready to contribute towards Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of shared destiny of progress and prosperity.
The prime minister said that both ML-1 and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) projects are of immense importance, expressing the confidence that both the sides will successfully achieve these and many other projects.
The Special Representative of President Xi Jinping and the Vice Premier of the State Council of China He Lifeng reached Pakistan on July 20 for a three-day visit at the invitation of the government of Pakistan.
During the visit, the Chinese Vice Premier He will attend the 10th-anniversary celebrations of CPEC and call on the President and the Prime Minister.
He Lifeng will also be the chief guest at an event celebrating the Decade of CPEC.
It is my pleasure to warmly welcome the Chinese Vice-Premier H.E. He Lifeng and members of his delegation to Pakistan. They are visiting Pakistan to join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of CPEC and witnessing first-hand the transformations brought about by this…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 31, 2023
