LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that 19 Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs ) have been signed between Punjab Government and China to enhance cooperation in various fields. Briefing newsmen about his recent visit to China at a news conference here, the Punjab CM said that China has agreed to undertake joint ventures with Punjab Government in the fields of dairy farming, livestock, agriculture and power generation. Punjab Minister for Finance, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Agriculture Minister Ahmad Ali Olak, PML-N MPA, Khawaja Imran Nazir and CM's Media Advisor, Pervaiz Rashid were also present on the occasion. Punjab CM told reporters that China has shown willingness to share its technology and expertise with Punjab Govt in the said fields, besides pledging to make investment in hydel power generation and exploring coal mines in district Chakwal. An MoU has also been signed for setting up of an IT Park in Punjab, he said, and added that Punjab Govt would provide land to Chinese firms free of cost for the purpose. He said an agreement to enhance cooperation in solid waste management has been singed, and DG LDA, who was part of delegation from Punjab, has been asked to stay for 10 days in China to work out modalities with the Chinese in this regard. He said Govt would follow a more focused approach to implement these MoUs, and a debriefing in this regard would be held on Wednesday. Committees, comprising experts and concerned officials would be constituted to keep in touch with the Chinese officials to ensure execution of projects identified during the China visit, he further said. Pakistan Counsel General in Shanghai, Zafaruddin Mahmood would head China Desk in Pakistan to undertake follow up meetings with the Chinese in this regard, Shahbaz further stated. Replying to a question, the CM said that during his China visit, he had to give explanations to his hosts about abductions and murders of Chinese engineers in Pakistan. To a question about enhancing cooperation with India in different fields, Shahbaz said that there was no harm in having trade links with any country including India, but they should be based on principle of equality. He said General Musharraf sowed thorns on the way of Pak-India relations during his eight-year rule, as he subverted the peace process with that country started by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. To a question, Punjab CM opposed Pakistan Govt's move to seek loans from world finance institutions and some friendly countries. "We should seek trade and not aid from friendly countries", he maintained, while adding that "if we continue with our begging bowl drive, a worst future is awaiting for us". He said Chines were a hardworking nation and had made tremendous progress in various sectors of life in the past 30 years. China has established industrial parks to attract foreign investment, the CM said. He informed that GDP of Shanghai was equal to that of Pakistan. Shahbaz said country needed a visionary leadership to put the country on the path of prosperity and development.