LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan and China would open up new avenues of bilateral cooperation to further strengthen their ties.
He said this while talking to Vice Minister International Department of the central committee of the Communist Party of China, Chen Fengziang who called on him here on Sunday.
Matters of mutual interest, promotion of bilateral relations and strengthening of mutual contacts between Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Communist Party of China were discussed in the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that China was reliable and trustworthy friend of Pakistan and has stood by it in every hour of need. He said that China had supported Pakistan in the time of national calamities including floods and earthquakes and is also extending all out help to Pakistan in overcoming its energy crisis.
Shahbaz Sharif said that present leadership of Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with China. Shahbaz Sharif said that Pak-China friendship was higher than Himalayas, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel and has stood the test of time.
He said that bilateral relations between the two countries were strengthening in the tenure of the present leadership. He said that Pak-China friendship had been turned into useful economic contacts and new avenues of bilateral ties were opening.
He said that Chinese leadership had expressed complete confidence in Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and during his visit to Beijing, China signed investment agreements of billions of dollars with Pakistan which will usher in a new era of economic development in the country.
The chief minister also stressed the need for increasing contacts between PML (N) and the Communist Party of China.
Vice Minister Chen Fengziang, while talking to the Chief Minister, said that his delegation had been extended deep love and hospitality in Pakistan and he was very happy to visit Lahore. He said that chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken unprecedented measures for the welfare and betterment of masses and he was not only an active chief minister but also a dynamic leader of PML(N). He expressed desire to strengthen contact between the Communist Party of China and PML(N). He said that China highly valued its relations with Pakistan and Pak-China friendship was strengthening with every moment.
Senior office-bearers of the Communist Party of China, new Consul General of Chinese Consulate set up in Lahore Yij Boren, Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz, Provincial Minister for Law Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Member Provincial Assembly Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Special Assistant Azm ul Haq and senior officials were also present on the occasion.
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the attack on innocent children in a school of Peshawar is the worst incident of terrorism and the whole nation is grieved.
While talking to Assembly members here on Sunday, he said that those who have martyred innocent children were a burden on earth and a stigma on society. He said that the elements that had attacked the future of the country deserved maximum punishment.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the blood of those who had sacrificed their lives for the country will not go waste and the nefarious designs of the enemies of peace and the country will be thwarted with the force of unity. He said that terrorists will be rooted out from the country forever. He said that Pak-Army, police and citizens had rendered supreme sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the whole nation was proud of its army and security institutions.
Condolence:
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of Munawar Mughal, vice president Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
In a condolence message, he prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.