ZHENGZHOU (China): The Pakistani and Chinese leaders Tuesday announced to further strengthen ties, especially in economic affairs and energy sector.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang discussed bilateral relations and regional situation as they met on the sidelines of 14th SCO Heads of Government meeting here.
Implementation on Economic Corridor Project and energy and infrastructure development projects in Pakistan also featured during the meeting.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi were also present on the occasion.
The prime minister congratulated the Chinese premier on the successful holding of the 14th SCO Heads of Government meeting. He felicitated the Chinese leadership and the Communist Party for approval of Yuan by International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Global Reserve Currency and said it was an important milestone in the integration of the Chinese economy into the global financial system and recognition of China as a major financial power.
Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan and China are celebrating the Year of Friendly Exchanges and next year would be marking 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. “We should tap this opportunity to further promote people-to-people contacts,” he added.
The prime minister expressed the satisfaction with progress on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project and said that Pakistan wanted that all the projects under the CPEC, be implemented in a timely and efficient manner. He said the CPEC project would prove a game-changer in the region. He said Pakistan considers friendship with China as central pillar of its foreign policy.
He said that cooperation between Pakistan and China was reflection of close friendship between the two countries and the new projects would change to destiny of people of the region. It will create new opportunities for employment and end poverty, he added.
Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan would like Chinese side to allow Pakistan to open a trade cum visa office in Urumqi to facilitate the CPEC projects implementation and people to people exchanges. He said the progress achieved by handing-taking over of Gwadar Port Free Zone is a good beginning for initiating the process for building the economic zone.
The prime minister informed his Chinese counterpart that the operation Zarb-e-Azb in FATA and National Action Plan in the country are being successfully implemented. He assured his counterpart of the security for Chinese workers and for this purpose a Special Security Division had been set up, while Gwadar security force has already been mobilised under the command of a Brigadier.
Both leaders also discussed the Afghan reconciliation process and the recently held Heart of Asia Conference in Islamabad, in which a Steering Committee comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US was set up which will supervise the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and coordinated efforts in this regard.
Prime Minister Sharif invited the Chinese Premier to visit Pakistan, which he graciously accepted.
