LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has termed the visit of Chinese President to Pakistan a milestone in economic and trade cooperation between both the countries.
A Chinese delegation headed by Mayor of Chengdu Tang Lianghzi called on the chief minister here on Saturday. Promotion of Pak-China friendship, bilateral cooperation, declaring Lahore and Chengdu twin cities and other important matters were discussed during the meeting.
Talking to the Chinese delegation, Shahbaz Sharif said the agreements of investment of billions of dollars will be signed during the visit of Chinese president, which included an important agreement of investment of $20 billion only in energy sector.
“We consider Chinese investment as cooperation and assistance for the development of various sectors and ridding Pakistan of energy crisis,” the CM stated. These agreements are of historic importance with regard to Pak-China friendship, he added.
China is extending great economic cooperation to Pakistan which is unprecedented in the history. Pakistan and China are two best and sincere friends of the world.
Shahbaz told the delegation that a number of energy projects with the cooperation of China will start producing electricity by 2017.
While the agreement of declaring Lahore and Chinese city Chengdu as twin cities will be made during the visit of Chinese President, the chief minister said this agreement will boost cooperation in tourism, trade, economy and other sectors between both cities.
He also welcomed the proposal of starting direct flight service between Chengdu and Lahore and added that working groups should be constituted for enhancing cooperation in education, health, tourism, economy and other sectors.
Commending the cooperation of China in development of various sectors, Shahbaz Sharif informed the delegation that the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project will also be completed speedily.
He also thanked the Chinese envoys for this extraordinary economic package of China. “Pakistanis are proud of Chinese friendship and the entire country is waiting for the visit of president of a sincere and friendly country,” he told them.
A new era of Pak-China friendship will usher in after the visit of Chinese leader, he added.
Mayor Chengdu Tang Lianghzi, while expressing his views on the occasion, said that China and Pakistan are tied with the relations of brotherhood and everlasting friendship. “Our mutual cooperation will further strengthen with the agreement of declaring Chengdu and Lahore twin cities and bilateral cooperation will further be promoted in various sectors,” he added.
Although it is his first visit to Pakistan, Tang Lianghzi said that he was highly impressed seeing the beauty and development of Lahore city.
Extending his invitation to the chief minister to visit Chengdu, he said that, no doubt, Shahbaz Sharif is called “man of action” in China and he has carried out exemplary development in the province.
Chinese Consul General in Lahore Yu Boren, Provincial Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Muhammad Pervaiz Malik MNA, and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.