Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that a new era of cooperation between Pakistan and China in the information technology (IT), communications, mining and energy sectors will be ushered in, leading to economic development and deepening of the long-established bilateral ties.
Sharif’s remarks were made in Islamabad on Saturday when he presided over a review meeting on the implementation of agreements and memorandums of understanding reached during his recent visit to China, Radio Pakistan reported.
The prime minister said enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and China in these areas would lead to economic development, strengthening regional connectivity and deepening ties between the two countries.
Referring to the long-standing friendly relations between Pakistan and China, he said China has always supported Pakistan in difficult times.
“China has emerged as the strongest economic power and Pakistan can emulate its development,” he added.
The 72-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said he would not tolerate any obstruction in the implementation of the agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed during his visit to China and announced that he would personally monitor the implementation of these agreements and MoUs.
The prime minister was also briefed about a delegation of Chinese shoe manufacturers that recently visited Pakistan to relocate their manufacturing base to the cash-strapped country and how Chinese companies are likely to invest $5-8 billion in the sector.
Regarding the agriculture sector, it was reported that 12 major Chinese companies will participate in the Food and Agriculture Expo to be held in Pakistan this year.
Sharif also reviewed the progress regarding sending 1,000 students from Pakistan to China on government scholarships for advanced training in agriculture.
He directed that students from all four provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), should be sent to China on the basis of merit, while students from backward areas of Balochistan should be given special preference in the programme.
Sharif instructed to start sending students to China for modern agricultural training from next academic year.
The meeting was further informed that over 100 Chinese companies are in contact with Pakistani companies for business and investment.
The conference also reviewed the progress of Huawei’s technical training for 300,000 students, a one-stop operation to facilitate business, smart governance, and smart cities.
The Prime Minister was also briefed on the progress of various communication, infrastructure and power projects by China in Gwadar.
Sharif recommended that steps be taken expeditiously for development of Gwadar Port, Gwadar Airport and Gwadar Industrial Zone to make Gwadar the hub of the trade corridor in the region.
He also instructed Chinese solar panel and equipment manufacturers to speed up negotiations to relocate their factories to Pakistan.
The 72-year-old leader is on his first visit to China since taking over as prime minister for a second term after his PML-N-led coalition government came to power in March.
Speaking at the Pakistan-China Business Forum last month, Foreign Minister Sharif assured Chinese investors of full support and security of Chinese individuals, projects and investments in Pakistan.
He said the Pakistan government has taken various measures to ensure complete security to safeguard the lives of Chinese workers.
In March, a suicide bomb attack in Dasu killed five Chinese nationals and a Pakistani driver.
Pakistan has paid $2.58 million in compensation to the families of those killed in the attack.
