Shehbaz, He agree on CPEC’s centrality for socioeconomic uplift

• Prime Minister, Chinese Vice Premier hold meeting
• Pakistan, China resolve to realise shared objectives
• Documents signed on CPEC Phase-II, further cooperation between two countries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Monday, expressing satisfaction at the steady development of CPEC projects in Pakistan, agreed on its centrality for Pakistan’s socio-economic development.

The bilateral ties including the CPEC were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and He Lifeng, Vice Premier of China and Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

At the invitation of the Government of Pakistan, the Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping is visiting here to attend the 10th-anniversary celebrations of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the official news agency said.

Both sides expressed their firm commitment to continue working together for realising the shared objectives of the CPEC.

It was also agreed that 10th anniversary of CPEC celebrations constituted a fresh starting point to further expand CPEC as envisaged by the leadership of the two countries.

The conversation was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality that has been the hallmark of Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on several aspects of bilateral relationship including CPEC and bilateral economic and financial cooperation.

Welcoming He Lifeng to Pakistan, the prime minister congratulated him on being promoted as the Vice Premier of China in March this year.

Appreciating China’s support for Pakistan’s economic development, Shehbaz Sharif observed that as strategic partners and trusted friends, the two countries have always stood by each other in difficult times, as evidenced by Chinese support to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and devastating floods in Pakistan.

Noting the unanimity of views between the two countries on regional issues, both leaders reiterated their resolve to support each other on all issues of their core interests.

In his remarks, Vice Premier He Lifeng conveyed President Xi Jinping’s message of China’s firm support to Pakistan’s prosperity and development.

The Chinese vice premier underlined that the Pakistan-China friendship was unique and had withstood the vicissitude of time due to deep fraternal ties between the peoples of two nations.

He reiterated that as an iron-brother and strategic partner, China would continue its existing economic and financial support to Pakistan.

Welcoming the prime minister’s vision for deepening trade and investment ties with Pakistan, the Chinese vice premier conveyed China’s willingness to enhance Pakistan’s agro and food exports to China.

The Chinese delegation included Deputy Secretary General of the State Council of China Guo Wei, Vice Minister of Foreign Ministry Sun Weidong, Vice Chairman National Development & Reform Commission Cong Liang, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China Xuan Changneng, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China Wang Kebing, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce Wang Liping, Chinese embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Pang Chunxue and other senior officials.

The Pakistan side included Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, MOS for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi and senior officials from relevant ministries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also hosted a luncheon in honour of He Lifeng and the accompanying delegation.

Later, Pakistan and China signed six documents that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said would further enhance bilateral cooperation and help undertake the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under a new model.

Held at the PM House, the signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Both countries signed document on joint cooperation committee on CPEC; MoU on establishing export exchange mechanism within the framework of CPEC; protocol of phytosanitary requirements for export of dry chilies from Pakistan to China and a document on the final report on the feasibility study of realignment of KKH Phase-II.

Both sides also signed through diplomatic channels an MoU on the industrial workers’ exchange programme as well as minutes of the 21st conference of technical committee to promote the strategic ML-1 project.

The prime minister, in his remarks at the signing ceremony, expressed pleasure over the signing of documents and thanked Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for visiting Pakistan to celebrate 10 years of CPEC.

He recalled that 10 years ago, CPEC was signed between that time prime minister Nawaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping and implementation was started within no time.

“Today we can claim that under CPEC above $25 billion investment took place in power, road, hydel power, and public transport. Now we are entering the second phase. Today, we signed certain important documents which will further enhance cooperation and undertake the second phase of CPEC under a new model,” the prime minister said.

He said the second phase of CPEC would feature the B2B investment in agriculture and information technology to enable Pakistan to export its products according to Chinese standards and requirements.

The prime minister also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for sending his special envoy to Pakistan and showing solidarity for people-to-people friendship and showing to the world that both countries were bound in a great and unique relationship.

“We are all-weather friends and iron brothers. This friendship will continue and will not tolerate any kind of obstacle in its way,” Prime Minister Shehbaz remarked.

He said Pakistan was absolutely ready to contribute to President Xi’s vision of shared prosperity.

Highlighting the importance of ML-1 and Karachi Circular Railway, the prime minister expressed the hope that both projects would be successfully executed to make Pakistan stand on its own feet through the hard work and untiring efforts of both countries.