FAISALABAD: Chinese investment and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would open new avenues of progress and prosperity in the region.
This was stated by Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China Sun Weidong, while speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by Sitara Group. He said that Chinese President, its government and people of China were proud of Pak-China friendship which was time tested and growing at a much faster pace with the passage of time.
He mentioned the visit of Chinese President Xi Ginping and said that during his visit a number of agreements were inked which had catalyzed the economic cooperation between the two countries. He also mentioned the establishment on Chinese Consulate General office in Lahore and said that it would not only play its role in strengthening bilateral relations but also facilitate the business community of Punjab.
The Consulate General will also initiate new programmes for the promotion of cultural and people to people contacts between the two countries, he said and expressed satisfaction that many Faisalabad based industrialists have launched joint ventures in collaboration with the Chinese entrepreneurs.
He voice hope that more joint ventures were in the pipeline and would soon become mature, paving way for the economic uplift of this region. He lauded the best working relations between Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) and Chinese Embassy and said that on the recommendations of FCCI, visas were being issued to maximum businessmen who intended to visit China. More steps were also being taken to facilitate the business community of Pakistan, he added.
Addressing on the occasion, Mian Javed Iqbal of Sitara Group said that China was the only country with which Pakistan enjoys cordial political as well as economic relations.
He said that China had always stood with Pakistan and we really appreciate its support in overcoming the menace of load shedding. He said that power plants installed with the help of China would also play a major role in expediting the pace of industrial growth.
Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, president FCCI also welcomed the Chinese Ambassador and said that Pak-China friendship was deep rooted and had played a major role in bringing the two countries closer. It is very encouraging that FCCI had also contributed its role in enhancing the economic cooperation between the business communities of the two countries, he said, adding that many local businessmen had initiated joint ventures in collaborating with Chinese partners while more projects were in the pipeline.
Three leading businessmen who are implementing joint ventures including Mian Haseeb Ahmed, Asim Khurshed and Shabbir Hussain Chawla also addressed the function and explained the progress on the joint ventures.
Former president FCCI Engineer Rizwan Ashraf, Mian Muhammad Latif, Syed Zia Alam Dar Hussain, Jamil Ahmed, Yu Boren, Consul General, Zheng Guojin Cultural Consular, Du Genqi and Zhang Lei Attache also participated in the function while Mian Javed Iqbal and Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz presented FCCI shield to Sun Weidong.
